PhD Materials R&D Intern — Polymers & Composites

TE Connectivity; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

TE Connectivity's Polymer and Composites group in Fremont, California is seeking a Materials Development R&D Intern for Summer 2027. The role involves hands-on lab work, formulation, and materials characterization for TE’s products.

You will assist in developing functional polymeric materials, with exposure to extrusion, injection molding, and printing processes, and will contribute to literature reviews and technical reporting in a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Ph.D., preferably in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge in polymer chemistry and polymer composites including processing techniques.
• Experience with chemical and material characterization tools (FTIR, SEM/EDS, MS, DSC, TGA, Instron, rheology).
• Good written and oral communication skills; able to work independently in a lab.

Responsibilities

• Support ongoing R&D projects in developing functional polymeric and composite materials.
• Contribute to areas such as thermoplastic composites, elastomers, and sealants/adhesives.
• Assist in formulation development and application testing.
• Conduct chemical and mechanical analysis of new polymeric formulations.
• Document experimental data, generate reports, and present results at group meetings.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Polymer composites

Processing techniques

Lab skills

Self-motivated

Education

PhD candidate

Tools

FTIR

SEM/EDS

MS

DSC

TGA

Instron

Rheology

Job description

TE Connectivity's Polymer and Composites group in Fremont, California is seeking a Materials Development R&D Intern for Summer 2027. The role involves hands-on lab work, formulation, and materials characterization for TE’s products.

You will assist in developing functional polymeric materials, with exposure to extrusion, injection molding, and printing processes, and will contribute to literature reviews and technical reporting in a collaborative team environment.