PMDI Research Scientist

Position Overview

The pMDI Research Scientist leads high-impact laboratory research that advances polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) technologies for engineered wood and related adhesive applications. This role combines deep materials and adhesive science with artificial intelligence, data science, and experimental modeling to generate new predictive models that accelerate discovery and optimize resin performance, manufacturing cost, and mill productivity. The position drives formulation and application-development work across resin chemistry, aqueous suspension and emulsion behavior, curing kinetics, wood‑substrate interaction, and process-performance relationships, translating scientific insight into scalable product and process solutions that improve performance, safety, sustainability, and commercial value.

• Lead laboratory research on pMDI resin systems, including neat resin, aqueous suspensions, emulsions, and related binder technologies for wood composite applications such as OSB, MDF, particleboard, and adjacent materials.
• Design and execute experiments that link formulation, processing, and substrate variables to adhesive performance, including moisture, press time, resin loading, viscosity, emulsion stability, penetration behavior, and wood‑furnish characteristics.
• Integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics with laboratory research to generate predictive models that optimize bond performance, process efficiency, raw‑material usage, and total cost in wood‑mill operations.
• Develop structure‑property‑process understanding for pMDI systems using analytical, thermal, rheological, microscopy, and mechanical testing methods.
• Interpret laboratory and pilot data to define performance windows, identify root causes, and uncover opportunities for product and process optimization.
• Translate research findings into practical recommendations for scale‑up, plant trials, manufacturing implementation, and customer‑facing technical support.
• Partner cross‑functionally with R&D, process engineering, manufacturing, commercial teams, and external stakeholders to align innovation priorities with business strategy and mill‑performance goals.
• Document experimental methods, model outputs, conclusions, and next steps in technical reports, presentations, and project updates while maintaining high standards for laboratory safety, environmental stewardship, and compliance.

• Plan, prioritize, and execute hands‑on laboratory programs focused on pMDI formulation, application, and performance improvement.
• Investigate curing mechanisms and reaction pathways involving isocyanate chemistry, water interactions, and wood‑surface functionality.
• Develop and optimize aqueous pMDI suspension or emulsion systems with attention to stability, viscosity growth, processing windows, and final bond performance.
• Build and refine AI‑and data‑driven models using laboratory, pilot, and manufacturing data to predict adhesive behavior, optimize formulations, and improve mill throughput, quality, and cost performance.
• Evaluate bonding performance using relevant test methods such as internal bond, dimensional stability, pull‑off, lap‑shear, and other application‑specific metrics.
• Characterize material behavior using techniques such as viscosity measurement, thermal analysis, microscopy, spectroscopy, surface analysis, and imaging methods to understand penetration, wetting, and interfacial interactions.
• Apply rigorous data analysis, statistical methods, and design of experiments to convert complex findings into clear technical conclusions and actionable recommendations.
• Partner with manufacturing and process teams to define trial plans, critical variables, risk‑mitigation actions, and scale‑up pathways for implementation in wood‑mill environments.
• Prepare technical summaries and present results to leadership, project teams, and commercial partners with decision‑support insights grounded in both scientific and model‑based evidence.
• Monitor scientific, patent, regulatory, and competitive developments in pMDI, wood adhesives, AI‑enabled materials research, and formaldehyde‑free…