Associate Scientist

IMCD is a global leader in the formulation, sales, and distribution of specialty chemicals and ingredients. Operating in over 60 countries with more than 5,200 professionals, IMCD helps suppliers grow through local networks, market intelligence, and technical expertise. Customers benefit from direct access to a large portfolio of high-quality products, while the company balances the needs of people, the environment, and communities.

About the Role

The Associate Scientist will support the day-to-day operation of the Pharmaceutical Technical Center through formulation development, prototype manufacturing, analytical testing, and laboratory management activities. This role works 100% on site in Allendale, New Jersey, collaborating with the Senior Scientist on customer projects, supplier collaborations, and internal studies involving oral solid, liquid, and topical dosage forms while adhering to GLP, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Supports formulation development projects for oral solid, liquid, topical, and nutraceutical applications.
• Prepares laboratory prototypes including blends, granules, tablets, capsules, coated dosage forms, suspensions, emulsions, creams, gels, lotions, and solutions.
• Conducts formulation screening studies and generates technical data to support customer projects and internal marketing initiatives.
• Operates pharmaceutical processing equipment including blenders, granulators, tablet presses, encapsulators, fluid bed processors, coating equipment, mixers, homogenizers, and laboratory-scale liquid and topical manufacturing equipment.
• Performs analytical and physical characterization testing including HPLC, UV/Vis spectroscopy, dissolution, disintegration, hardness, friability, particle size, rheology, viscosity, powder flow, and density measurements.
• Maintains laboratory equipment, instrumentation, raw material inventory, and samples to ensure efficient laboratory operations.
• Performs routine equipment setup, cleaning, preventative maintenance, and calibration activities in accordance with laboratory procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years of related experience in formulation development with a focus on solid oral dosage forms.
• Hands-on experience with powder handling, blending, wet granulation, milling, tablet compression, capsule filling, film coating, or fluid bed processing.
• Experience performing USP testing, including dissolution, disintegration, friability, and tablet hardness.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, laboratory safety, and scientific documentation.

An advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a related field may offset some of the experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a pharmaceutical product development laboratory.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Primarily lab-based work environment.
• Regular use of computers, lab equipment, and standard office equipment.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000, dependent on experience. This position is bonus eligible.