Process Safety Lab Scientist

Ashland Inc. is looking for a Scientist to join our Process Safety Lab in Bridgewater, NJ. The role reports to the Applied Research Group Leader and involves collaborative work with process and plant engineers, quality and regulatory personnel, and customers to ensure safe and compliant handling of materials in manufacturing operations.

• Work closely with process and plant engineers and quality and regulatory personnel to generate material and process hazard data.
• Maintain and calibrate lab equipment and instrumentation, diagnosing and repairing faulty instrumentation as needed.
• Keep detailed records of experiments, interpret test data, and write test reports.
• Follow all safety policies and procedures, performing all duties in a safe manner.
• With supervisor, design and perform non‑routine experiments to obtain calorimetric and manometric process safety data related to run‑away reactions.
• Develop an understanding of testing methodologies, design custom testing protocols, and identify causal factors for anomalies in test data.
• Process and evaluate test requests and incoming chemicals and samples, performing sample preparation and pre‑test safety reviews.
• Maintain inventories of chemicals and spare parts.
• Ensure timely disposal of waste to keep the work area clean and organized.
• Maintain a detailed inventory of igniters and generate monthly NJ explosives use reports.

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative, cross‑functional environment involving global customers, labs, and manufacturing sites.
• Understanding of chemical principles with good lab skills, neat working habits, and excellent oral and written communication.
• Good time management and organizational skills for supporting multiple projects.
• Ability to obtain a New Jersey Grade H permit to use explosives and to pass NJ State Police and ATF background checks.
• Authorization to work in the United States.
• Mechanical skills to work with common tools and small‑diameter tubing and tube fittings.
• Ability to lift and move equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds.

• 2 to 5 years of work experience in process safety testing, analytical testing, or quality control.
• Knowledge of electrical principles and pressure and temperature measurement.
• Experience working with compressed gases.
• Experience in particle size analysis, moisture analysis, particle size reduction (milling and sieving), adiabatic calorimetry, and dust hazard characterization testing (20L sphere, MIE, MAIT, LIT, etc.).
• Knowledge of ASTM and EU combustible dust testing standards.
• Knowledge of UN Tests for flammable solids, self‑heating solids, and oxidizing solids.
• Understanding of synthetic and mechanistic organic chemistry.

• Team and individual recognition rewards, employee engagement events, and company bonus plan.
• Comprehensive benefit package with medical, dental, and vision coverage starting on day one for you and your family.
• Generous 401(k) plan with company match.
• Referral bonus plan – receive payment for referring qualified candidates.
• Good work/life balance with options for flexibility in work schedule.

Ashland is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Women, Veterans, Disabled, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation applicants are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.