Research & Development (R&D) Scientist

W.R. Grace & Co.; Tyrone (Blair County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials, seeking an R&D Scientist in Tyrone, PA to design and optimize scalable organic syntheses for commercial production.

The role emphasizes advanced synthetic chemistry, cross-functional collaboration with safety, engineering, and analytics, and literature-based evaluation of routes. A PhD or equivalent experience is required.

Qualifications

• PhD in organic chemistry or Master’s with 7+ years in organic chemistry.
• Experience interpreting data and spectra (NMR, HPLC, GC).
• Experience with amino acids and peptide synthesis.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop, and demonstrate commercially viable processes for custom products with a focus on developing economical and robust processes while minimizing waste streams.
• Support production of new chemical entities during initial scale-up and process validation.
• Perform experiments needed to evaluate and optimize a potential synthetic route in terms of its overall yield, purity, cost, and safety.
• Develop and share ideas for synthesizing sophisticated organic molecules, with an emphasis on applying innovative synthetic chemistry strategies and techniques.
• Explore crystallization conditions to create the desired crystal habit for optimal filtration rate, yield, and impurities rejection.
• Work collaboratively with other departments including safety, engineering, analytical, and sourcing to introduce new chemical processes into full-scale production.
• Write detailed development reports documenting the laboratory research.
• Devise literature searches and utilize other resources that are needed in evaluating projects in terms of their costs, toxicity, safety, and relevant patent data.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Scale-up processes

Data interpretation

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety compliance

Education

PhD in organic chemistry

Master’s in chemistry with 7+ years of experience

Tools

NMR

HPLC

GC

Peptide synthesis

Amino acids chemistry

Job description

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Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more. Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.

Job Description

Grace is a leader in the production of small molecules used in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries.

The R&D Scientist has a strong foundation in organic synthesis and is part of a highly motivated, creative R&D team.

The Scientist designs and optimizes the synthesis of organic compounds with the goal of producing routes of manufacture which can be scaled up on location.

This exciting specialty has a high potential for career growth by driving innovation using advanced synthetic & analytical techniques. The Scientist contributes to a cross-functional team of chemists, engineers, analytical experts, Health, Safety and Environmental and marketing teams to bring processes from the bench to commercial production.

The R&D Scientist is in Tyrone, PA.

• Define, develop, and demonstrate commercially viable processes for custom products with a focus on developing economical and robust processes while minimizing waste streams.
• Support production of new chemical entities during initial scale-up and process validation.
• Perform experiments needed to evaluate and optimize a potential synthetic route in terms of its overall yield, purity, cost, and safety.
• Develop and share ideas for synthesizing sophisticated organic molecules, with an emphasis on applying innovative synthetic chemistry strategies and techniques.
• Explore crystallization conditions to create the desired crystal habit for optimal filtration rate, yield, and impurities rejection.
• Work collaboratively with other departments including safety, engineering, analytical, and sourcing to introduce new chemical processes into full-scale production.
• Write detailed development reports documenting the laboratory research.
• Devise literature searches and utilize other resources that are needed in evaluating projects in terms of their costs, toxicity, safety, and relevant patent data.

Physical Requirements and Environment

• Ability to follow safety protocols and standards working in a laboratory environment with highly hazardous materials
• Must be willing to wear PPE (Personal Protective equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, Level A suit, full face respirator

Required Qualifications

• PhD in organic chemistry OR
• Master’s in chemistry with 7+ years of experience in organic chemistry.
• Experience interpreting data and spectra derived from laboratory instrumentation (NMR, HPLC, GC)
• Experience with amino acids and peptide synthesis

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with synthetic organic chemistry fundamentals, technical knowledge, and multi-step organic synthesis.
• Experience designing and developing novel synthetic routes which can be scaled to plant assets. Experience with process scale-up
• Experience working independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team environment.
• Experience generating and implementing original ideas and solutions which contribute materially to the success of product manufacturing.
• Education or experience using approved AI/ML tools to accelerate innovation and improve productivity.

To be considered for this position, candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employer-sponsored work authorization. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or visa transfer.

Grace is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Grace via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Grace. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.