Summer 2027 Intern-Intern for Product Development Lab (Chemistry)

Momentive•Waterford, MI

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Momentive is seeking candidates for a summer internship in our silicone release coatings (RLC) and pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) product development group. The selected candidate will work hands-on as a scientist in an R&D chemistry lab and accelerate the development of new, more sustainable, products for the adhesives market. The intern will collaborate with expert scientists to identify technical problems, propose solutions, plan experiments, synthesize polymers and/or small molecules, measure material performance, interpret data, formulate new products, and participate in other aspects of applied research. They will work as a creative contributor under the supervision of an experienced chemist and have opportunities to work independently as their skills and confidence grow. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, curious, and able to solve problems both collaboratively and independently. They will also have a strong desire to expand their own horizon by participating in hands-on research experiences. Momentive’s RLC products are used throughout the self-adhesive label and tape industries. Although rarely noticed, release coatings are highly engineered materials that are critical to the manufacturing and performance of self-adhesive tapes, postage stamps, shipping labels, and more. Silicone’s unique combination of flexibility and low surface energy is key to supporting and protecting adhesive films, while also releasing them smoothly and consistently. Momentive’s PSA products are used to manufacture devices for the medical, food, electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries. They are used in assembly-, sealing-, and masking tapes as well as for lamination and vibration damping. The exceptional stability of silicone allows it to resist extreme heat, cold, and UV exposure, while its low surface energy allows it to adhere to non-stick surfaces like silicone rubber and PTFE.

Requirements

Candidate must have a desire to perform hands-on work in a chemical laboratory environment.
Candidate must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) when working in laboratories, for up to 8 hours per day: Safety glasses and/or goggles, lab coat, steel-toe boots, and nitrile gloves.
Candidate must be able to use Microsoft Excel to record, analyze, and plot data.
The candidate must be actively enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at the time of application and for at least one semester following the conclusion of the internship.
The candidate is expected to be available 40 hours a week for a period of 10-12 weeks between the months of May and August.
Applicant must be enrolled in an undergraduate program (BA/BS/BSc/BEng) or graduate program (MS/PhD/DSc) with a focus on chemistry. E.g., majoring in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or Life Sciences.
Candidate must complete at least two years of study in a chemistry-focused program before starting in May 2027. I.e., rising juniors, rising seniors, and graduate students.
Candidate must complete organic chemistry lecture and lab courses before starting in May 2027.

Nice To Haves

Strong written communication skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

Embrace a safety-first mindset. Participate in safety reviews before working with new chemicals and procedures.
Perform all activities in compliance with all Momentive safety and chemical hygiene policies.
Collaborate with other scientists to interpret data, find trends, identify technical problems, and propose practical solutions to overcome them.
Plan and execute chemical reactions 10 g to 5000 g scale using written procedures. Complexity will depend on the intern’s level of skill.
Formulate high-performance silicone adhesives and/or release coatings to support new product development. Complexity will depend on the intern’s level of skill.
Measure the properties and performance of new materials and formulations using application-specific test methods.
Generate accurate and precise test data.
Organize, interpret, and present data to the team.
Work on-site at Momentive’s Waterford, NY R&D laboratories.