Research Chemist

Stepan Company; Northfield (CT); On-site; USD 86,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Bonus

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

401K with Match

Profit Sharing

PTO

STD/LTD

FSA

HSA

Parental Leave

Adoption Assistance

Recognition Program

EAP

Job summary

Stepan Company in Northfield, CT is seeking a Research Chemist in the Polymer Group to drive strategic projects, synthesize polymers, analyze formulations, and develop business cases for long-term initiatives.

The role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, scaling up processes for new polyol routes, and performing analytical tests (NMR/FTIR/GPC/TGA) while presenting results to stakeholders. A strong chemistry/materials background is required.

Qualifications

• Strong thermodynamic understanding applied to lab experiments and plant processes.
• Experience integrating AI/ML, predictive modeling, and autonomous research tools into workflows.
• Strong organizational, writing, and communication skills.
• Solid understanding of analytical capabilities for organic molecules (NMR, FTIR, GPC, TGA).
• Understanding of structure–property relationships of polymers.

Responsibilities

• Organic and polymer synthesis, including kinetic and process-related experiments.
• Polyurethane foam formulating and physical property testing.
• Analytical testing for polyol projects (NMR, FTIR, GPC, etc.).
• Scale-up and process development for new polyol processes.
• Pilot-scale development of new polyurethane foams.
• Contribute to safety and waste programs and adhere to policies.
• Conceive projects contributing to company growth and collaborate across functions.
• Communicate project results to internal and external customers.

Skills

Thermodynamics

AI/ML in research

Communication

Analytical chemistry

Structure-property relationships

Education

BS in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering with 8+ years of industrial experience

PhD in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering with 0-5 years of industrial experience

Tools

NMR

FTIR

GPC

TGA

Job description

Job Description

The Research Chemistin the Polymer Group at Stepan will be responsible for working collaboratively in a team environment to drive both short and long-term strategic projects to completion. The Research Chemist will conduct polymer synthesis, chemical analysis, formulation studies of new products and applications testing. In addition, the Research Chemist will develop initial business cases (e.g. white papers) for long-term initiatives to help populate the strategic project portfolio while collaborating between various functional groups to enable the project’s success.

Responsibilities:

• Organic and polymer synthesis, including kinetic and process-related experiments
• Polyurethane foam formulating and physical property testing
• Conduct analytical testing relevant to polyol projects, including NMR, FTIR, GPC, and other wet chemistry analytical methods
• Scale-up and process development for new polyol processes
• Pilot-scale development of new polyurethane foams
• Contributes to and actively participates in safety/waste programs and steadfastly adheres to safety policies/standards.
• Conceives of projects and ideas to contribute to company growth
• Interdepartmental collaboration on requests and technical projects
• Communicate project results to both internal and external customers

Qualifications

• Strong thermodynamic understanding and application to both new laboratory experiments and plant processes
• Experience integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive modeling, and autonomous research tools into scientific workflows to enhance innovation, decision-making, and research productivity.
• Strong organizational, writing, people, and communication skills.
• Good understanding of analytical capabilities related to organic molecules, including NMR, FTIR, GPC, TGA, etc.
• Understanding of structure-property relationships of polymers

Education

• B.S. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering with at least 8 years’ industrial experience
• Ph.D. Chemistry or Chemical Engineering with 0-5 years’ industrial experience.

Pay Range: $86,000 - $133,400

The salary range for this position is determined by considering a variety of factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and the location of the position.

At Stepan Company our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Discretionary Bonus
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401K with Match
• Profit Sharing
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD / LTD)
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Adoption Assistance
• Reactions – Recognition Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

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