Research Chemist

Job Title: Research Scientist

Reporting: Director of Innovation

Location: Danville, VA

Date: October 2025

Job Summary:

Ascent Industries Co. is seeking a Research Scientist to join our Research and Development team. This role will serve as the technical focal point for new custom and contract manufacturing projects and drive successful execution from proof of concept through commercial-scale production. This role will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders in R&D, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Manufacturing to drive commercial success with a focus on speed to solution, commercial-scale viability, deep technical rigor, and a proactive safety mindset.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical skills in experiment design, synthesis, process chemistry, commercial-scale unit operations, and scale up within the chemicals or materials industry. This role is expected to serve as the subject matter expert for all analytical testing related to the contract manufacturing projects, implementing customer specified tests and introducing new test methods that are critical for ensuring product quality.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the technical focal point for new contract manufacturing opportunities.
• Identify fastest and most efficient route to commercial scale solutions for new contract manufacturing opportunities based on a deep understanding of process chemistry and plant unit operations.
• Design experiments based on sound scientific principles and statistical methods to validate technical packages for proof of concept, optimize processes, and develop technical package for manufacturing to support First Time in Spec production.
• Rapidly produce samples for customer evaluation based on a thorough understanding of plant equipment capabilities and technical requirements
• Establish R&D lab capabilities for synthesis, process development, sample preparation, and testing by evaluating current capabilities and additional needs to support project pipeline.
• Demonstrate expertise in a broad array of analytical instruments and drive new method development to align internal test methods and capabilities with customer methods and protocols. Leverage external labs for specialized test capabilities.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders in Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Product stewardship to drive successful commercialization.
• Engage with customers to gather process details, develop experimental plans, communicate project progress, present key findings, results, and support successful qualifications.
• Create Standard Operating Procedures and Work Instructions for core lab activities. Assure safe lab operations and compliance with site regulations while ensuring zero recordables.

Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Special Physical Requirements: 

• Ph.D. or master’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science and Engineering
• Proven hands-on product development and industrial scale-up (3 years) in specialty chemicals or materials industry with subject matter expertise in on or product categories: Surfactants, Emulsions, Dispersions, Specialty Additives, Acrylic Adhesives, and Reactive Blends. Know-how of product requirements for one or more market segments: Oil and Gas Chemicals, Water Treatment Chemicals, Personal Care, Lubricants, and CASE.
• Strong lab scale synthesis skills, working knowledge of commercial-scale process equipment, and prior experience scaling a product from the laboratory scale through robust commercial scale production. Solid understanding of interplay between raw materials, formulations, manufacturing process variables, product specifications, and product performance.
• Prior experience with development of detailed technical packages for scale up.
• In depth analytical and method development experience with techniques such as GPC, GC, HPLC, FTIR, NMR, Rheology, Particle Size, and wet chemistry.
• Design of Experiments and Six Sigma Green Belt Experience Preferred.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal.

Success Metrics

• On time execution of R&D work for new contract manufacturing projects per milestones established in NPD process
• Improve technology transfer from lab to plant with a focus on developing detailed technical packages for achieving target specifications in the first production run.
• Develop detailed understanding of customer technical protocols for testing and drive quick internal implementation
• Serve as a technical interface to provide outstanding customer engagement in all technical aspects and help position R&D as our unique value proposition to contract manufacturing customers