Surfactant Applications Research Chemist

Sasol•Lake Charles, LA

15h•Onsite

About The Position

Support applications-focused research and development activities at Sasol’s Lake Charles site, emphasizing surfactant-based systems and aligning work with global business strategies and objectives for profitable growth. Develop, formulate, and test surfactant-based and specialty chemical products, including products for Pulp & Paper applications. Demonstrate the value of existing and experimental Sasol products, particularly alcohols and surfactants, in relevant markets to support specialty chemical sales. Provide technical support at conferences and customer meetings as needed. The role supports research projects, develops and executes technical projects with manager support, and leads significant technical initiatives while managing multiple projects. It includes independently conducting safe laboratory experiments, maintaining equipment, generating and communicating reliable documented data, recording results in electronic laboratory notebooks and reports, and presenting findings. The chemist interacts with customers and internal stakeholders, attends and presents at conferences, and helps appropriately record laboratory results for intellectual property development. Travel may be required as needed.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Chemistry, or a master’s degree with 5 years of experience, or a bachelor’s degree with 10 years of experience.
Hands-on experience, ideally including surfactant systems, alcohols, and derivatives.
Familiarity with laboratory work.
Strong commitment to safety.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and ability to work with instruments having computer interfaces.
Effective interpersonal skills for working with internal and external customers.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
R&D project management experience, including planning, initiating, and completing projects with necessary interaction with R&D, Marketing and Sales, and customers.
Solutions-driven and customer-focused.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in Chemistry is preferred.
Hands-on experience with surfactant systems, alcohols, and derivatives is ideal.

Responsibilities

Support research projects addressing the research group’s technical objectives, including Pulp & Paper and applications testing in end-use markets using surfactants and alcohols.
Develop and execute technical projects aligned with assigned application-area needs, with support from the manager.
Lead significant technical initiatives within the research group and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Demonstrate the feasibility of technical solutions to key problems and issues within research and project teams.
Use key laboratory instrumentation and standard techniques, including reliably executing more complex procedures.
Set up and conduct laboratory experiments independently and safely; maintain Sasol equipment and generate, document, and communicate reliable data.
Document results in electronic laboratory notebooks and research reports, and present findings at group meetings and departmental seminars.
Attend, network, and present at key conferences; provide technical support at conferences and customer meetings as needed.
Interact with customers, the manager, group members, and other local laboratory research groups.
Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders in the research group, Lake Charles R&D, global R&D departments, sales, and marketing.
Understand Sasol’s intellectual-property procedures and appropriately record laboratory results for potential intellectual-property development.
Travel as needed.