Junior Coatings Scientist

Ashland Inc.

91d

About The Position

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Junior Coatings Scientist to join our Specialty Additives business at our Wilmington, DE location. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the R&D function. This position will report to Senior / Staff Scientist for Specialty Additives Wilmington lab.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials/Polymer Science or equivalent years of experience
• 0–3 years experience in coatings, polymers, or specialty chemicals
• Familiarity with lab instrumentation and basic data analysis; strong organization and attention to detail
• Effective teamwork and communication with a positive, constructive approach
• Demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior at all times
• The ability to help the company drive greater value through understanding the business, making complex decisions and creating the new and different

Nice To Haves

• Foundational understanding of coating formulation and additive functions in waterborne systems (wetting/flow & leveling, defoaming, dispersion, rheology)
• Hands on evaluation of surfactants, defoamers, dispersants, and rheology modifiers in waterborne coatings
• Exposure to DOE/statistics (e.g., Minitab/Design Expert) and reproducibility planning
• Familiarity with ASTM/industry test methods for coatings

Responsibilities

• Plan & execute experiments to evaluate additive performance across representative coating systems (e.g., acrylic, alkyd, epoxy, PU dispersions)
• Prepare/apply coatings via drawdown, spray, and roller; control film build and application conditions
• Characterize performance: rheology/viscosity, gloss/DOI, particle size, opacity, wetting/leveling, foam/air entrainment, adhesion, scrub/abrasion
• Analyze & document procedures, data, and observations in lab notebook/spreadsheets; author concise reports and presentations
• Collaborate with senior scientists on project milestones, customer trials, and scale up handoffs; communicate results clearly and on time
• Follow EHS & quality practices (SOPs, PPE, chemical hygiene, waste handling, 5S); maintain a clean, audit ready lab
• Actively contribute to the organizational goals by taking initiative, executing on goals and focusing on performance and safety
• Improve the organization capacity and capabilities through building collaborative relationships, optimizing diverse talent and utilizing positive communications and influence with others

Benefits

• Industry competitive salary and benefits
• Pay-for-performance incentive plans
• A diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued
• Opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees