Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

The successful candidate must have hands-on experience working in a chemicals/materials/biomedical/textiles lab, be familiar with basic synthetic (polymers or small molecules) chemistry techniques, and have hands-on experience using instruments for materials characterization (rheology, Instron, DSC, GPC, and 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.
Education:
PhD suggested, Bachelors required
Requirements
• Hands on laboratory experience working with various polymers/biomaterials/formulations
• Experience with design and development of a polymeric materials-based solution for a biomedical or pharmaceutical application
• Hands on experience characterizing formulations/polymers (gels, polymer blends, emulsions, particles, biomedical polyesters, other viscoelastic systems etc.)
• Experience operating commonly used materials characterization tools (such as rheometer, Instron, spectroscopic methods, DSC, GPC, etc.) and interpreting resultant data
• Ability to design, execute, and appropriately document experiments
• Good written and verbal technical communication skills
• Ability to effectively interpret and present scientific results
Desired skills
• Experience developing test methods to assess biomechanical performance of prototypes
• Knowledge of polymer processing methods (extrusion, thermoforming, 3D printing, etc.), resorbable materials
• Experience with design of preclinical studies and interpretation of resultant data
• Experience in basic synthetic chemistry (small molecule or polymer synthesis)
• Willingness to work occasionally with biological specimens (e.g. animal tissues) for lab scale testing
Education:
Graduate degree (Ph.D. preferred) or equivalent work experience in the fields of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Textile engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or related scientific discipline. Prior work experience in a medical device R&D organization is a plus.