Associate Applications Scientist

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Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world‑class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables.

As a globally inclusive company, Eastman employs approximately 13,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2025 revenue of approximately $8.8 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit

Eastman Chemical Company is seeking an experienced Applications Development / Research Scientist to advance the Aventa™ biodegradable polymers product family through product development, compounding and scale‑up of novel cellulose ester‑based formulations. Utilizing a fundamental, science‑first approach, the role emphasizes rigorous investigation of melt rheology, chain architecture, phase behavior, and degradation pathways to build predictive structure–property–processing maps that guide formulation and processing decisions.

The scientist will translate these fundamentals into robust, safe, and repeatable processing solutions across extrusion, profile extrusion, and injection molding while meeting end‑use fitness‑for‑use (FFU) and home/industrial compo stability targets at optimized cost. This position reports into the Biodegradable Technology Division and is located at the R&D headquarters in Kingsport, TN.

• Participate in, align with, and influence Eastman’s market segment team strategy (Application Development, Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Technical Service, Product Management, Regulatory, Manufacturing).
• Translate customer and market needs into technical requirements and Critical to Quality (CTQ) metrics to guide product concepts and product selection.
• Lead and support market‑facing Stage Gate projects; define technical milestones, risks and mitigation plans.
• Design and execute application‑ and formulation‑specific experiments to develop fundamental understanding of melt rheology and relate rheological metrics to processing performance and end‑use properties.
• Formulate and compound cellulose ester polymer blends and additive systems to meet targeted rheology, mechanical, optical and compo stability requirements; optimize cost/performance trade‑offs.
• Run, interpret and apply rheometry, MFI/MI, melt strength and processability tests; translate results to processing windows and machine settings.
• Design and analyze DOE and statistical studies to optimize formulations and process parameters.
• Support lab, pilot and scale up compounding/extrusion trials; troubleshoot processing challenges and recommend robust, safe operating conditions.
• Facilitate and run customer trials and internal validations; communicate results and convert validated trials into product development actions.
• Create and protect innovative solutions via patent disclosures and support intellectual property activities.
• Prepare clear technical documentation and oral presentations for internal and external stakeholders (test reports, technical data sheets, regulatory inputs).
• Apply and promote rigorous safety and environmental practices: lead hazard assessments, ensure compliant handling and disposal of materials, and support other safety programs.

• Doctoral degree in Polymer Science/Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related technical field.
• 8+ years industry experience translating polymer formulation fundamentals into commercial scale products.
• Demonstrated hands on experience with melt rheology testing and interpretation.
• Practical experience in formulation, compounding and extrusion (lab and pilot scale).
• Strong understanding…