Chemist

Position          : Chemist

Location   : San Diego, CA

Duration : 12 Months Contract

Total Hours/week : 40.00

Description:

• Serve as chemist supporting the development of water soluble synthetic polymers. Individual will primarily support the prototyping, troubleshooting and scaling of development materials.
• Responsibilities include purification, analysis, and post-modification of water-soluble polymers. Individual must be comfortable working in cross-functional teams under defined deadlines.
• The successful candidate will have experience with polymers, organic synthesis, macromolecule separations, and/or analytical characterization with excellent attention to detail and ability to follow standard, documented processes.

Primary Duties:

• Perform a variety of polymer processing, purification and characterization steps to support the generation of new polymer materials
• Purify aqueous polymers using common biochemistry techniques (filtration, SEC, etc.)
• Remove solvent via rotary evaporation and/or lyophilization
• Characterize polymer size by GPC/SEC chromatography using established standard processes
• Perform small scale dye labeling reactions according to established standard processes
• Perform established reactions to convert/activate functional groups on final polymers
• Optical characterization of the polymer dyes including measurement of absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra.
• Prepare outgoing materials and supporting (QC) documentation
• Provide assistance as needed to maintain functioning laboratory; including glassware cleaning, material ordering, inventory control and other duties.
• Support documentation of R&D results in company databases

Basic Qualifications:

Minimum Knowledge and Skills:

Organic Synthesis:

• Basic organic synthesis skills
• Ability to follow established reaction protocols and standard processes
• Practice in using rotary evaporator

Analytical Skills:

• Basic experience with UV/Vis and/or fluorescence spectroscopy
• Experience operating FPLC/HPLC/GPC equipment using established protocols preferred
• Documentation in lab notebooks, checklists and basic databases

Additional Laboratory Skills:

• Labeling and packaging
• Familiarity with separation/purification methods is a plus

Other:

• Strong attention to detail
• Works in a team based environment
• Multi-task to cover a variety of job functions
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to follow established policies and procedures
• Demonstrated ability to maintain neat, accurate and complete notebook and batch records
• Ability to independently perform and analyze data and identify issues in routine tests
• Familiarity with operation of routine laboratory instruments and applicable software

Education and Experience:

• Typically requires BS in Chemistry or similar Life Science discipline
• Typically requires minimum of 2 years of experience in a laboratory setting