Research & Development (R&D) Scientist

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, 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.

About the role

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.

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.

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 Prote Equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, Level A suit, full face respirator.

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.
• 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.

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.

Pay

Annual wage range: $123,600.00 - $169,950.00. Eligibility for the Short-Term Incentive program and other applicable bonuses.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Grace Wellness Program
• Flexible Workplace
• Retirement Plans 401(k) Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Holidays
• Parental Leave (salaried only)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Company Donation Match Program
• U.S. Employee Benefits Summary