Research Scientist

Job Title:
Research Scientist

Reporting:
Director of Innovation

Job Summary:

Ascent Industries Co. is seeking a Research Scientist to join our Research and Development team. This role will serve as the technical focal point for new custom and contract manufacturing projects and drive successful execution from proof of concept through commercial-scale production. This role will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders in R&D, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Manufacturing to drive commercial success with a focus on speed to solution, commercial-scale viability, deep technical rigor, and a proactive safety mindset.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical skills in experiment design, synthesis, process chemistry, commercial-scale unit operations, and scale up within the chemicals or materials industry. This role is expected to serve as the subject matter expert for all analytical testing related to the contract manufacturing projects, implementing customer specified tests and introducing new test methods that are critical for ensuring product quality.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical focal point for new contract manufacturing opportunities.
• Identify fastest and most efficient route to commercially viable solutions for new contract manufacturing and custom synthesis opportunities based on a deep understanding of process chemistry and plant unit operations.
• Establish R&D lab capabilities for synthesis, process development, sample preparation, and testing by evaluating current capabilities and additional needs to support project pipeline.
• Design experiments based on sound scientific principles and statistical methods to validate technical packages for proof of concept, optimize processes, and develop technical package for manufacturing to support First Time in Spec production.
• Rapidly produce samples for customer evaluation based on a thorough understanding of plant equipment capabilities and technical requirements
• Demonstrate expertise in a broad array of analytical instruments and drive new method development to align internal test methods and capabilities with customer methods and protocols. Leverage external labs for specialized test capabilities.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders in Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Product stewardship to drive successful commercialization.
• Engage with customers to gather process details, develop experimental plans, communicate project progress, present key findings, results, and support successful qualifications.
• Create Standard Operating Procedures and Work Instructions for core lab activities. Assure safe lab operations and compliance with site regulations while ensuring zero recordables.

Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Special Physical Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science and Engineering
• Proven hands-on industrial scale-up and technical