Graduate R&D Intern - Electrochemistry

MSA, The Safety Company; Cranberry Township (Butler County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

MSA Safety is seeking a Graduate R&D Intern in Electrochemistry to join the Sensor Chemistry team. You will design and develop sensors for dangerous atmospheres, contributing to safety-critical applications.

You will prototype, test, and analyze sensor systems, collaborating with mentors and a diverse team of peers from interns to PhD-level experts. A hands-on lab environment and cross-functional work are central to the role.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge/experience with electrochemistry and electrochemical systems such as sensors, batteries, or fuel cells.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the influence of chemical structures and material morphology in electrochemical systems.
• Experience applying tools like Python or MATLAB for data analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the desire to work within a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to present technical material to a variety of audiences and create concise technical reports that support engineering judgments.

Responsibilities

• Support and accelerate new product development through sensor prototyping and testing.
• Develop an understanding of electrochemical sensor design, manufacturing, and performance.
• Lead sensor prototyping activities that advance new product development or product improvement initiatives.
• Organize and execute test plans. Compile and analyze results, making recommendations on next steps.
• Support MSA product continuous improvement.
• Apply technical expertise to troubleshoot and resolve a broad variety of electrochemical gas sensor product, production, and/or sourcing challenges.
• Characterize electrochemical sensor systems by deploying a variety of statistical and laboratory techniques.

Skills

Electrochemistry

Python

MATLAB

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

Graduate degree in electrochemistry

Bachelor's in related field

Tools

FTIR

GC-MS

XRF

XRD

SEM

Job description

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career.

At MSA, SAFETY is who we are AND it is what we do. We are a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to deliver on our Mission to help protect people and assets all around the world. We continue to be relentless in our pursuit of solving our customers greatest problems so they can go home safe each and every day.

Are you in? Read on for more details about this particular role.

Responsibilities

MSA Safety’s Sensor Chemistry team is looking for an engaged and inquisitive team member with a passion for electrochemistry. If you like chemistry and technology, have a customer-focused mindset, and are imaginative, creative, and hands‑on, we want to hear from you!

Responsibilities

As a Graduate R&D Intern in Electrochemistry at MSA Safety, you will work alongside an experienced team to design and develop sensors that are used to sense dangerous atmospheres accurately and reliably. This challenging but exciting work helps keep people safe from explosive or toxic gases, monitors occupational exposures and emissions to such agents, and ultimately safeguards workers and their communities.

In this role, you will:

• Support and accelerate new product development through sensor prototyping and testing.
  • Develop an understanding of electrochemical sensor design, manufacturing, and performance. Develop electrochemical systems for target gases of interest in collaboration with technical mentors.
  • Lead sensor prototyping activities that advance new product development or product improvement initiatives.
  • Organize and execute test plans. Compile and analyze results, making recommendations on next steps.
• Support MSA product continuous improvement.
  • Apply technical expertise to troubleshoot and resolve a broad variety of electrochemical gas sensor product, production, and/or sourcing challenges.
• Characterize electrochemical sensor systems by deploying a variety of statistical and laboratory techniques.

This role is right for you if:

• You are passionate about electrochemistry and its application to real‑world problems.
• You want your work to be meaningful.
• You are eager to learn and adaptable.
• You like your work to be dynamic and varied from day-to-day.
• You like being hands‑on and are comfortable in a laboratory environment.
• You enjoy working within global teams and with a diverse group of peers, whose experience may range from interns to PhD‑level experts.
• You have strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• You have demonstrated the ability to manage your time across multiple simultaneous projects.
• You can commit to an extended internship (i.e. 9 months to 1 year).

Qualifications

Skills and experiences required:

• Demonstrated knowledge/experience with electrochemistry and electrochemical systems, such as sensors, batteries, or fuel cells.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the influence of chemical structures and material morphology in electrochemical systems.
• Experience applying tools like Python or MATLAB for data analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the desire to work within a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to present technical material to a variety of audiences and create concise technical reports that support engineering judgments.

Skills and experiences preferred:

• Experience in applying Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) principles and/or inferential statistics.
• Familiarity with instrumental analysis techniques such as FTIR, GC-MS, XRF, XRD, SEM, etc.

Education required:

• Currently pursuing and/or successful completion of a graduate degree in electrochemistry
• Bachelor’s of Science in a related scientific field or engineering discipline