Adhesive Chemistry Internship

Wacker Chemical Corporation USA; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid parental leave

401(k) with company match

Education Assistance Program

Career development opportunities

Flexible hybrid work arrangements

Job summary

WACKER is seeking an Adhesive Chemistry Intern to join our Allentown, PA team for a 12‑week summer internship. You will work with application chemists and technicians in the polymers industry, learning vinyl acetate ethylene dispersion chemistry used as adhesives and contributing to formulation development.

You will gain hands-on lab experience with instruments like DSC, rheometers, and Instron, while designing tests that connect lab results to real‑world performance.

Qualifications

• Rising junior or senior
• Preferred majors: Material Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science and Technology, Chemistry
• Candidates must be available to work full-time for 12 weeks of the summer at our Allentown, PA location
• Candidate needs to be able to follow laboratory procedures, work independently, and follow all safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate adhesive formulations for paper and packaging applications to enhance product performance and sustainability.
• Gain hands‑on experience with advanced laboratory instruments, including rotational rheometers, differential scanning calorimeters (DSC), and Instron universal testing systems.
• Design and optimize test methods that connect laboratory measurements to real-world application and performance outcomes.
• Build technical, problem‑solving, and project management skills through independent research and collaboration with experienced scientists and engineers.
• Summarize and present findings to the group.

Skills

Laboratory procedures

Safety practices

Independent work

Education

Material Science and Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Polymer Science and Technology

Chemistry

Job description

Job Title: Adhesive Chemistry Internship

Job Location (Short): Allentown, PA, USA, 18106

Posting Start Date: 9/14/26

Do you want to take responsibility and make a difference with your work? With your expertise, we can achieve great goals together. We are WACKER - Reliable. Determined. Ambitious. As one of the world's most research-intensive chemical companies, we've been making countless products that are an integral part of your everyday life possible for over 100 years. From vegan food to resource-efficient buildings to solar cells, we develop sustainable solutions that change the future.

To strengthen our team in Allentown,

we are looking for you as a(n) Adhesive Chemistry Internship.

As an Adhesive Chemistry Intern, you will work alongside application chemists and technicians in the polymers industry and ;earn about vinyl acetate ethylene dispersion chemistry and how they are used as adhesives

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate adhesive formulations for paper and packaging applications to enhance product performance and sustainability.


• Gain hands‑on experience with advanced laboratory instruments, including rotational rheometers, differential scanning calorimeters (DSC), and Instron universal testing systems.


• Design and optimize test methods that connect laboratory measurements to real-world application and performance outcomes.


• Build technical, problem‑solving, and project management skills through independent research and collaboration with experienced scientists and engineers.


• Summarize and present findings to the group.

Requirements

• Rising junior or senior


• Preferred majors: Material Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science and Technology, Chemistry


• Candidates must be available to work full-time for 12 weeks of the summer at our Allentown, PA location


• Candidate needs to be able to follow laboratory procedures, work independently, and follow all safety practices.

What do we offer?

WACKER strives to reward its employees in a fair and equitable manner. Our Total Rewards Package considers employee wellbeing and is comprised of compensation, benefits, work-life balance, performance & recognition, and career development.

• Compensation and Incentive plans


• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance effective day 1


• Paid Time Off in addition to personal days and holidays


• Paid parental leave


• Wellbeing fund


• Flexible hybrid work arrangements


• 401(k) with company match


• Education Assistance Program


• Career development and advancement opportunities


• Support for Community Involvement

Reference Code: 31643

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. A minimum requirement for this US-based position is the ability to work legally in the United States on a permanent unrestricted basis. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, including any type of US permanent residency (e.g., for a green card).

Wacker is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively promote the equality of opportunity for all who are qualified and bring the requisite experience, talent, skill and potential, without regard to age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristics. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.