Chemistry Scientist 2

Roles & Responsibilities

The BDTI Medical Device Innovation group at Research Triangle Park, NC is seeking a scientist to work as a member of a team that is involved in identifying, developing, and testing new technologies for a range of different interventional medical devices. Specifically, the team is focused on the chemical and materials aspects of these devices. Under the supervision of a senior scientist, the candidate will help with the development of new chemical formulations (hydrogels, coatings, viscoelastic materials, etc.), and test methods for characterizing those formulations. This includes synthesis and chemical modifications of polymers, determination of their physico-chemical properties by various analytical instrumentation methods, and assessment of functional performance both in-vitro and in-vivo.

The successful candidate must have hands-on experience working in a chemicals/materials/biomedical lab, be proficient in basic synthetic (polymers or small molecules) chemistry techniques, and be familiar with analytical instrumentation techniques used for materials characterization (rheology, DSC, GPC, spectroscopic methods). Additional experience with test method development using medical prototypes, working knowledge of biomedical polymeric materials, and preclinical testing in animals is also valuable.

The candidate should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to proactively identify and resolve experimental challenges, and a strong desire to gain experience in developing medical technologies. The candidate should be able to plan and conduct scientific experiments, and effectively analyze, interpret, and present experimental results while collaborating with team members from a variety of backgrounds. The candidate should also be able to adapt to changing requirements that can arise in a dynamic work environment and will be expected to contribute intellectually to areas not directly related to his or her field.

Experience Required

Requirements
• Hands-on laboratory experience working with various chemicals/materials/polymers
• Experience in basic synthetic chemistry (small molecules or polymer synthesis)
• Understanding of a range of analytical instrumentation tools (e.g., polymer rheology, DSC, GPC, spectroscopic methods).
• Good written and verbal technical communication skills
• Ability to design, execute, and appropriately document experiments
• Ability to effectively interpret and present scientific data
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team

Skills & Certifications

Desired skills
• Experience designing and characterizing polymeric materials (gels, polymer blends, block copolymers, biomedical polyesters, other viscoelastic systems, etc.)
• Knowledge of polymer processing methods (extrusion, 3D printing, blending, etc.), resorbable materials
• Experience with in-vivo testing of biomedical devices or prototypes
• Willingness to work occasionally with biological specimens (e.g. blood) for lab-scale testing

Eligibilities & qualifications

Education:
M.S./Ph.D. in Biomedical / Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials, Polymers, Textiles, or related scientific discipline. Prior work experience in a medical device or diagnostics R&D organization is a plus.