pMDI Research Scientist

Hexion Careers • Worthington, OH

5d

About The Position

The pMDI Research Scientist leads high-impact laboratory research that advances polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) technologies for engineered wood and related adhesive applications. This role combines deep materials and adhesive science with artificial intelligence, data science, and experimental modeling to generate new predictive models that accelerate discovery and optimize resin performance, manufacturing cost, and mill productivity. The position drives formulation and application-development work across resin chemistry, aqueous suspension and emulsion behavior, curing kinetics, wood-substrate interaction, and process-performance relationships, translating scientific insight into scalable product and process solutions that improve performance, safety, sustainability, and commercial value.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Wood Science, Data-Enabled Materials Research, or a closely related technical discipline; or M.S. with significant directly relevant industrial research experience.
• 10+ years of experience in polymer, adhesive, isocyanate, polyurethane, or related reactive resin research and development.
• Demonstrated expertise in structure-property relationships, formulation science, laboratory experimentation, and translating data into practical product and process insight.
• Experience applying statistical analysis, design of experiments, modeling, and/or artificial intelligence tools to research, development, or manufacturing optimization problems.
• Hands-on experience with material characterization and performance testing relevant to reactive resin systems.
• Strong technical writing, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety practices and chemical handling requirements for reactive materials.

Nice To Haves

• Industrial experience with pMDI or related isocyanate technologies in wood composites, coatings, adhesives, binders, or composite materials.
• Knowledge of wood composite manufacturing processes, including OSB, MDF, plywood, or particleboard production.
• Experience with aqueous suspension or emulsion systems, rheology, wetting and penetration studies, and curing kinetics.
• Experience developing predictive models or applying machine learning, multivariate analysis, or digital experimentation tools in laboratory or manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with scale-up from lab to pilot or plant environments and supporting customer or mill trials.
• Track record of invention disclosure, patent support, technical publication, or proprietary know-how generation.
• Understanding of sustainability drivers, formaldehyde-free technologies, and evolving market and regulatory requirements in engineered wood applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead laboratory research on pMDI resin systems, including neat resin, aqueous suspensions, emulsions, and related binder technologies for wood composite applications such as OSB, MDF, particleboard, and adjacent materials.
• Design and execute experiments that link formulation, processing, and substrate variables to adhesive performance, including moisture, press time, resin loading, viscosity, emulsion stability, penetration behavior, and wood-furnish characteristics.
• Integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics with laboratory research to generate predictive models that optimize bond performance, process efficiency, raw-material usage, and total cost in wood-mill operations.
• Develop structure-property-process understanding for pMDI systems using analytical, thermal, rheological, microscopy, and mechanical testing methods.
• Interpret laboratory and pilot data to define performance windows, identify root causes, and uncover opportunities for product and process optimization.
• Translate research findings into practical recommendations for scale-up, plant trials, manufacturing implementation, and customer-facing technical support.
• Partner cross-functionally with R&D, process engineering, manufacturing, commercial teams, and external stakeholders to align innovation priorities with business strategy and mill-performance goals.
• Document experimental methods, model outputs, conclusions, and next steps in technical reports, presentations, and project updates while maintaining high standards for laboratory safety, environmental stewardship, and compliance.

Benefits

• We invest in innovation, sustainability, and continuous development—equipping you with the tools, training, and opportunities to excel.
• With an unwavering commitment to safety, partnership, belonging, and impact, we empower you to lead change and strengthen industries worldwide.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree