Research Scientist/Senior Scientist

Balchem Corporation; Montvale (NJ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Balchem Corporation is seeking a Research Scientist to join the R&D group in Montvale, NJ, with a focus on developing new products and driving scale-up from lab to commercial production. The role requires hands-on formulation chemistry work, DOE, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams.

The candidate will contribute to patenting, publications, and industry engagements while supporting product scale-up and occasional travel to production sites.

Qualifications

• BS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Material Science or Food Science with 4+ years of experience required for Research Scientist; MS with 4+ years or PhD with 1+ year for Senior Scientist.
• Proven safety champion in process-related industry; capable of ensuring safe R&D practices via hazard reviews, SOPs, and PPE.
• Experience in specialty chemicals, food, nutraceutical, or pharmaceutical industries or suppliers to these industries.
• Mastery of chemistry bench skills and material characterization techniques (DSC, rheology, microscopy, texture analysis, etc.).
• Experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals or filing patents; advanced analytical skills and DOE design.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on lab and pilot plant support including extrusion, granulation, and fluidized bed operation.
• Develop new products and optimize formulations using DOE to explore design spaces.
• Document projects thoroughly and act as internal Balchem technology expert (microencapsulation, spray-drying, agglomeration, end-use tech).
• Lead projects and anticipate challenges to keep progress moving; interface with Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
• Represent Balchem in industry groups and associations; publish articles and present at meetings; travel to production sites as needed.

Skills

Safety champion

DOE

Bench chemistry

Data analysis

Publications/patents

Project management

Education

BS in Chemistry/chemical engineering/polymer science/material science/food science

MS degree

PhD with 1+ year(s)

Tools

DSC

Rheology

Microscopy

Texture analysis

Data management tools

Job description

Company Overview

Balchem is committed to making the world a healthier place by delivering trusted, innovative, and science-based solutions for the health and nutritional needs of the world. Balchem employs approximately 1,400 employees worldwide who provide the service, quality, and technology that enables our customers to win with their customers. We have built a reputation for delivering results to all of our stakeholders. Founded in 1967, Balchem, a Maryland corporation, became a publicly-traded company in 1970 and is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “BCPC.” Our corporate headquarters is located in Montvale, New Jersey, and we have a broad network of sales offices, manufacturing sites, and R&D centers, primarily located in the U.S. and Europe. The Company consists of three business segments: Human Nutrition and Health, Animal Nutrition and Health, and Specialty Products.

Position Summary

The Research Scientist is a member of the R&D Group based in New Hampton, NY (Temp) Montvale, NJ (Perm). They report to the R&D Manager for Balchem’s Animal Nutrition and Health business. They will participate in a wide variety of projects, with an emphasis on developing new products. They will be expected to take on challenging technical problems and drive research efforts to produce next-generation and breakthrough products. They will develop the scientific data on the lab, pilot plant and commercial scale to progress projects from ideation to scale-up and commercialization.

Essential Functions

• Provide hands-on support to lab and pilot plant to fulfill R&D functions, including extrusion, granulation, and fluidized bed operation.
• Use expertise in formulation chemistry to create innovative products and improve existing formulations.
• Provide creative ideas for expanding our value and profits to our customers and differentiating our company from the competition.
• Utilize design of experiments (DOE) to systematically explore multivariate design spaces.
• Carefully document projects in an organized and transparent manner.
• Become the internal expert, with deep fundamental knowledge of Balchem’s technology such as microencapsulation, spray-drying, agglomeration, and end-use technology rumen-protected nutrients.
• Act as a project manager, anticipating challenges to keep projects moving forward.
• Review the patent and technical literature and alert the organization to technology developments outside of Balchem.
• Work in a multi-disciplinary team to tackle difficult problems harmoniously.
• Communicate effectively and interface with other departments to ensure smooth business flow, including Balchem’s Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
• Represent Balchem in industry groups and trade associations.
• Be an external face for Balchem in the technical community; publish articles, file patents, and make presentations at industry association meetings.
• Support product scale-up efforts including infrequent travel to production sites.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Combined Education and Experience Requirement:

For the Research Scientist position, a BS degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Material Science or Food Science with 4+ years of experience is required. For the Senior Scientist position, an MS degree with 4+ years of experience or a PhD degree with 1+ years of experience is required.

Required Skills

• Proven ability to be a safety champion in a process-related industry. Holds self and others accountable for safe behaviors and works toward goal of zero injuries. Ensure that R&D work is conducted in a safe manner via hazard reviews, SOPs, and appropriate PPE.
• Preferred professional experience in the specialty chemicals, food, nutraceutical, or pharmaceutical industries or suppliers to these industries.
• Mastery of chemistry bench skills and knowledge of or experience with material characterization techniques (DSC, rheology, microscopy, texture analysis, etc.).
• Detail-focused working style.
• The ability to quickly learn existing protocols and build new protocols to advance projects as needed.
• Track record of successful technical execution and publication in peer reviewed journal(s) or patents.
• Advanced analytical skills including experiment design (DOE).
• Proficiency in data management and analysis, with experience using relevant tools and software.

Preferred Skills

• Experience formulating products and the associated material process steps.
• Experience developing polymeric formulations including emulsions
• Knowledge of regulations pertaining to animal feed and experience working in a regulated environment.
• Proven track record of scale up in an industrial setting.
• Project management experience from ideation to scaleup.

Balchem is committed to a workplace culture that values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunities, and a work environment free of harassment and hostility.

The expected salary for this position is $80,000 - $120,000 annually.