Research and Development; R&D Technician - Decatur, GA

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Georgia Pacific is seeking an R&D Technician to support Georgia-Pacific's Building Products Innovation Center in Decatur, GA (just outside of Atlanta, GA). The Research and Development Technician is a role that will assist in the development and improvement of building products' product offerings through experimentation. Assignments typically are in the areas of making laboratory and pilot-scale samples and testing materials to develop and/or improve building products (i.e., gypsum panels, wood structural panels, lumber, specialty gypsum products, accessory products, etc.).

Georgia-Pacific's Building Products business is consistently among the nation's top suppliers of building products to large warehouse retailers and building materials dealers. To learn more about our Building Products division, visit

• Conduct routine laboratory tasks such as sample testing, product testing, and laboratory board making.
• Weigh and prepare raw materials for laboratory-scale production of gypsum boards, OSB, and plywood panels.
• Support pilot plant trials by handling materials, participating in pilot runs, and recording process variables.
• Cut building materials and construct prototype wall and floor assemblies (up to 8' x 8').
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to conduct material characterization and prototype testing.
• Record experimental data, weights, and measurements accurately using Microsoft One Note and other electronic lab notebooks.
• Manage daily schedules and communications using Microsoft Outlook and Teams to coordinate with scientists and engineers.
• Document procedures, observations, and deviations in One Note during experiments.
• Input data into Excel for basic calculations and generate simple graphs to analyze results.
• Assist in preparing summaries and presentations of experimental outcomes using Word and PowerPoint.
• Prioritize and manage multiple tasks/projects independently while maintaining organization and timely completion.
• Use discretion to make on-the-spot adjustments during testing to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Strong time management and organizational skills; prioritize and complete multiple tasks/projects independently.
• Strong communication skills to provide periodic progress updates clearly and effectively.

• Associate's degree or higher in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering Technology, or a related technical field.
• Experience working in a research laboratory environment (i.e., academic, government, or corporate research and development laboratory).
• Experience following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for routine testing and data recording.
• Experience in using Microsoft Office tools or other similar platforms:
• Outlook for scheduling and communication.
• Teams for collaboration and updates.
• One Note for documenting laboratory experiments and observations.
• Word for summarizing work.
• Excel for data input, basic calculations (averages, standard deviations), and simple graphing.
• PowerPoint for creating presentation slides.

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Experience working autonomously with minimal supervision while coordinating with multiple scientists and engineers.
• Experience with electronic laboratory notebooks and data management systems beyond basic Microsoft tools.
• Experience with supporting pilot plant trials, participating in pilot runs, and recording process variables.
• Experience in interpreting and troubleshooting experimental deviations or process variables.
• Experience constructing complex prototype assemblies and understanding structural panel manufacturing processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, data analysis, and graphing capabilities.
• Experience in creating professional presentations that summarize data and experimental results effectively.

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