Position Summary The Associate Scientist, Formulations develops, optimizes, characterizes, and supports agricultural formulations. The work covers both new product development and lifecycle management of existing products. The role combines hands-on laboratory work with growing responsibility for experimental design, data analysis, and technical recommendations that move projects forward. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams to support product development, scale-up, intellectual property generation, and successful commercialization.
What You’ll Do
- Plan, execute, and document formulation research for new product development and lifecycle management of nutritional, biological, polymer, and small molecule-based products.
- Analyze and interpret experimental results, and share findings through technical reports, presentations, graphs, and data summaries.
- Provide technical support to cross-functional partners in Product Development, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Commercial.
- Support scale-up and technology transfer by working with manufacturing teams to evaluate formulation robustness and production feasibility.
- Develop, validate, document, and improve laboratory methods, SOPs, work instructions, and testing protocols.
- Maintain accurate lab records and electronic laboratory notebooks that support intellectual property and patent filings.
- Prepare and coordinate formulation samples for lab evaluations, greenhouse testing, field trials, and external collaborators.
- Manage formulation databases, technical records, and research data.
- Identify, evaluate, and procure lab materials, equipment, and instrumentation.
- Participate in lab safety programs, audits, inspections, inventory management, and shipping activities.
- Other duties as assigned.
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Agricultural Sciences, or a related discipline with 2-5 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree in a related scientific discipline with 1-3 years of relevant industry experience.
- Knowledge of agricultural formulations, formulation chemistry, and product development principles.
- Experience evaluating the physical and chemical properties of formulations.
- Experience operating standard laboratory equipment and analytical instrumentation.
- Ability to independently execute experimental programs and manage multiple priorities.
- Strong problem-solving and data interpretation skills.
- Strong organizational, communication, and technical writing skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to obtain hazardous materials shipping certification when required.
Preferred
- Experience in formulation development, product development, or applied chemistry in an industrial R&D environment.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.