What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fall 2026 Research Assistant position at Elinor Coatings?
Overview
This role will join a team of researchers developing protective and anti-corrosion coatings for U.S. Department of Defense aerospace, maritime, and ground vehicle support. Research Assistants report to the internship field supervisor/senior scientist.
Primary Responsibilities
Assist in protective coating formulation:
- Formulate coatings following written procedures
- Apply formulated coatings to specification requirements
- Learn and use ASTM and/or industry standards to evaluate coating properties
- Learn and perform proper substrate preparation
Understand data management and research reporting:
- Follow standard operating procedures for data acquisition and data entry
- Learn proper lab book recording
- Become familiar with database handling and report generating
Learn and use basic safety, skills and operating procedures in a laboratory setting:
- Maintain safe and clean workspaces consistent with environmental regulations and best practices
- Follow lab standard operating procedures
- Practice good chemical hygiene
- Follow proper cybersecurity protocols
Additional Responsibilities:
- Participate in meetings and reports when appropriate
- Assist with field testing if needed
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Minimum Education/Experience
- College student (Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or Graduate)
- Major in field of science or engineering
- Two semesters of chemistry lab experience preferred
- Oral and written communication skills to enable working with multi-disciplinary groups of individuals with diverse backgrounds
Classification and Compensation
Internship or Multi-Semester Co-op:
- Pay starting at $18/hour depending on experience
- Minimum of 10 hours weekly
- 401k match up to 5% of contribution