Polymer Science Phd Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

With a population of more than 77,000, Baytown, Texas, is located in the Gulf Coast region of the United States, just east of Houston, the nation's fourth largest city. Those who live and work in Baytown will find an area rich in history, as well as opportunities for outdoor activities due to its proximity to scenic waterways, namely Galveston Bay, the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou.

Founded in 1919, ExxonMobil's Baytown Complex is located on approximately 3,400 acres along the Houston Ship Channel, about 25 miles east of Houston. Employing a workforce of more than 8,500, it is comprised of four manufacturing sites, including one in nearby Mont Belvieu, and a global technology center. These include the Baytown Refinery, one of the largest refineries in the United States, and the Baytown Olefins Plant, one of the largest ethylene plants in the world.

Its scope of products includes fuels, lube oils, and chemical compounds used in a diverse range of products, from auto battery cases, diapers and tire inner tubes to pharmaceutical uses, food packaging, trash bags and more.
The Baytown area sites are highly integrated, which makes the plants and products more efficient as we develop technologies to make cleaner fuels and work together to operate more safely and reliably.

Learn more about what we do in Baytown here.

Help grow our ProxximaTM polyolefin thermoset system business.  These resin formulations are based on cyclic C5 monomers and other proprietary monomers and additives. Our catalyst formulations have strong foundations in Nobel Prize-winning technology developed by Professor Robert Grubbs and his research team. This powerful combination produces polymers that have the capability to outperform today's thermoset composite solutions across a broad set of everyday applications such as wind turbine blades, electric vehicle parts, construction, and anticorrosion coatings.

Your role is to demonstrate the application and performance advantages of ProxximaTM polyolefin thermoset coatings technology and help prospective customers adopt it for use in their existing coating products.

Your office is at the Baytown Technology and Engineering Complex located in Baytown, Texas.  However, you will collaborate with commercial colleagues located at the ExxonMobil Campus in Spring, Texas, as well as occasionally traveling in North America and internationally to support customer trials.

• Develop new anti-corrosion coatings and other coating formulations.
• Develop Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) type coatings combining ProxximaTM chemistry with that of epoxy, urethane, aspartic urea, and siloxane, etc., to produce novel hybrid coatings.
• Utilize equipment located in our Baytown facilities to fabricate smooth, defect-free coating samples needed to assess corrosion resistance and other performance parameters mimicking targeted industrial service conditions.
• Provide on-site technical support for customers developing new products using ProxximaTM resins and catalysts.
• Assist customers in application processes (spray, brush, roller, etc.) optimization and, where needed, provide guidance on equipment upgrades.
• Provide technical insights gleaned from the market to help guide new application developments.
• Provide market insights to inform and update business strategy.
• Develop novel technology to strengthen the portfolio of intellectual property.
• Author technical reports and technical publications to share learnings.
• Co-author promotional brochures and technical data sheets highlighting performance benefits.
• Train and mentor less experienced colleagues.

Skills and Qualifications

• B.S., M.S. or PhD in Chemistry, Engineering, Coatings Science, Polymer Science, Materials Science or related degree

• 5+ years of industrial experience formulating high-performance thermoset coatings

• Strong understanding in thermoset coating chemistries (epoxy, urethane, urea, siloxane, radiation curing, etc.)

• Strong understanding in coating formulation principles, coating additives, colorants, adhesion promoters, anti-corrosion pigments and additives, inorganic fillers, extenders, rheology modifiers, etc.

• Knowledge of coating application methods, airless spray, plural component spray, brushing, roller, etc.

• Understanding of polymer structure-property-processing relationship

• Knowledge of ASTM, ISO, AMPP coating test methods

• Knowledge of statistical experimental design (DOE) and formulation optimization

• Knowledge of major thermoset coating markets, applications

• Strong interpersonal, analytical and communication skills

• Proficient in use of computers and possess excellent administrative and organizational skills

• Must be hands on with inclination to be lab based

• Knowledgeable of Intellectual property development/assessment/procurement

• Knowledge and experience of hybrid coatings of mixed chemistries, polymeric blends, IPN a plus

• Knowledge of ROMP (ring opening metathesis polymerization) and p-DCPD (dicyclopentadiene) chemistry a plus

An ExxonMobil career is one designed to last. Our commitment to you runs deep: our employees grow personally and professionally, with benefits built on our core categories of health, security, finance, and life.

We offer you: 

• Pension Plan: Enrollment is automatic and at no cost to you. The basic benefit is a monthly annuity to be paid to you in retirement for the rest of your life. 

• Savings Plan: You can contribute between 6% and 20% of your pay and are encouraged to enroll right away. If you contribute at least 6% to your savings plan, the Company will contribute a 7% match. 

• Workplace Flexibility: We have several programs such as "Flex your Day", providing ad-hoc flexibility around when and where you work, as well as longer-term programs such as leaves of absence and part-time work.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. 

• Culture of Health: Programs and resources to support your wellbeing. 

• Employee Health Advisory Program: Provides confidential professional counseling for you and your family, including tools and resources promoting mental health and resiliency at no additional cost to you. 

• Disability Plan: Income replacement for when you cannot work due to illness or injury occurring on or off the job. Enrollment is automatic and at no cost to you.

• More information on our Company's benefits can be found at www.exxonmobilfamily.com

• Please note benefits may be changed from time to time without notice, subject to applicable law.

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