R&D Sr. Scientist, Synthetic Chemistry

What You Will Be Working On

• Contribute to developing new products and enhancing existing products based on customer, market, or technology needs working both independently and within teams receiving direction from a supervisor or senior scientist(s) to establish priorities and requirements.
• Research, develop, and execute synthetic methods for target molecules, applying technical expertise to identify the most promising methods taking into account complex trade-offs including safety, IP strategy, development and manufacturing cost, scalability, timeline, and risk.
• Use technical expertise and Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies to design and execute efficient, well-thought-out experiments with clear problem statements, hypotheses, well-defined controls and baselines, and data-supported conclusions that are timely, consistent, meaningful, and accurate.
• Perform hands‑on laboratory work including assembling, using and maintaining common laboratory equipment such as glassware, syringes, Schlenk lines, inert atmosphere chambers, rotary evaporators, recirculating chillers/heaters, pressure vessels, high‑precision balances, and dosing and vacuum pumps, maintaining all working areas and equipment in a clean, well‑organized manner at all times.
• Understand and apply complex or advanced chemical concepts in a laboratory setting, including generating balanced chemical equations; assessing stoichiometry; analyzing multicomponent mixtures to assess composition and impurity levels; correlating relative contribution of process or chemical variables to specific success criteria; comparing data to theoretical values; identifying key performance indicators and control variables such as pressures, temperatures, mixing rates, solvent effects, pH effects, etc.;
  
  and applying significant digits and dimensional analysis.
• Analyze data using statistical methods and other relevant techniques, including development of models correlated to experimental data; plotting meaningful linear, non‑linear and three‑dimensional graphical representations of data; calculating standard deviations, control and specification limits; analysis of variation (ANOVA); calculation and application of confidence intervals; and application of statistical process control (SPC) methodologies.
• Generate concise written summaries, procedures, specifications and other documents as needed, expressing ideas and opinions clearly in properly structured, well‑organized and grammatically correct reports and documents that are understandable and relevant for the target audience and contain conclusions supported by data.
• Drive troubleshooting and development of response‑flow checklists (RFCs) using technical expertise and standard methodologies including Taguchi/fishbone analysis; 5‑whys;
  Plan‑Do‑Check‑Act (PDCA);
  Design of Experiments (DOE); and population assessments such as p‑ and t‑tests.
• Maintain a laboratory notebook with detailed and legible records of data, observations, and projects to support generation of MLI Intellectual Property (IP).
• Read, understand and apply information in chemical literature, safety data sheets (SDS), and other relevant sources to identify and mitigate risks when working with hazardous chemicals and processes, including toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, flammable, pyrophoric, highly reactive, high‑pressure, negative‑pressure, extremely hot or cold materials, and hazardous equipment.
• Consistently focus on and prioritize safety, applying administrative, engineering and personal protective equipment and protocols at all times to ensure the safety of yourself, your colleagues and our community, safeguard the environment, and properly identify, manage, and minimize waste.
• Collect and consolidate data from multiple sources, including laboratory notebooks, metrology reports, and chemical literature, to enable evaluation of experimental outcomes by identifying important information, tracing possible causes of problems, and searching for practical solutions.
• Prepare a weekly summary of specific activities, describing key activities accomplished, projects in progress with milestones and estimated completion dates, observations and…