Advanced Scientist, Agricultural Coatings

Overview

We are excited to offer an outstanding opportunity for an Advanced Scientist to join our Global Research & Development (R&D) team within the Agricultural Coatings segment.

Informed by important market needs and new trends, you will develop waterborne product prototypes through your ability to connect structure/property fundamentals with novel product functionality.

Your mindset for identifying problems and creating solutions will fuel a “reason to believe” for the novel functional benefits to be provided by Michelman materials in a way which will help accelerate the growth of the Agricultural Coatings segment.

Excellent problem-solving skills and creativity will be essential to your success as they will allow you to quickly screen new technologies and materials for fit both with the market and with Michelman. Further, it will be essential that you develop a strong collaborative network with other groups including sales, technology, marketing, and manufacturing teams to convert those novel concepts into successful product platforms.

Expect to become a go-to resource for your internal customers as it relates to optimizing coating performance in Agricultural Coatings end use application(s).

• Collaborate with sales and marketing to develop problem statements based both on trends in the market and on latent customer needs
• Lead in the development of new application-centric solutions to be enabled by Michelman technologies within the agricultural coating technical team
• Design new (and sometimes complex) product development experiments to be conducted at the lab scale – either by you or by others
• Build a working knowledge of coatings application methods and performance tests which will enable the development of new concepts
• Lead the design, development, and optimization of seed coating formulations for synthetic, natural, and biodegradable polymer platforms
• Conduct hands-on lab work, including batch preparation, pilot-scale simulations, and film characterization (adhesion, abrasion resistance, drying time, etc.)
• Evaluate coating performance with treated seeds, including plantability, dust-off, active loading, and biological compatibility
• Document thoroughly and accurately all experiments, analyses, and testing results
• Ensure timely delivery of project-related information/results to company partners
• Plan, initiate, and execute projects using the Michelman project management process
• Provide reports (written and verbal) on technical results/conclusions to business and technology leadership
• Build an effective collaboration with the global technical team to foster a culture of idea exchange and knowledge transfer
• Partner with commercial and customer-facing teams to tailor solutions based on market needs and application methods
• Multiply your individual expertise by drafting effective and easily-understood user guidelines for Michelman’s products – both as “application ready” solutions and as additives to be formulated with other materials
• Lead internal discussions to ensure that colleagues remain up-to-date on relevant product/application issues
• Support external collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, and key agribusiness stakeholders
• Maintain a clean and safe work environment
• Perform related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates

• Strong analytical and observation skills
• Practical experience developing waterborne products, additives, and/or formulations for agricultural applications
• Demonstrated track record of innovation, technology scouting, and/or process/product prototyping is highly desirable
• Solid understanding of polymer chemistry, film-forming behavior, and application methods for seed coating (rotary coater, fluidized bed, seed treater systems)
• Working knowledge of regulatory frameworks impacting seed coatings, such as Regulation 2023/2055, FIFRA, OECD standards
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and work independently while collaborating across disciplines
• Experience with stage-gate project management and the types of documentation required by that process
• Agile mindset to adapt to shifting business…