Intern, Research & Development
POSITION PURPOSE:
The purpose of this job is to research, develop, and support the implementation of manufacturing process improvements and new manufacturing processes.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Process Development:
- Demonstrate technical proficiency, application of scientific principles, attention to detail, collaboration with others, and independent thinking
- Exercise good judgment and apply generally-accepted engineering and safety practices when selecting methods and techniques for evaluation and implementation
- Conduct experiments, literature and vendor research, and technical work to support the development, improvement, and scale-up of manufacturing processes
- Write technical reports and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Laboratory:
- Organize and maintain laboratory data and other laboratory records, including laboratory notebooks, instrument records, electronic data files, and technical reports
- Conduct and interpret results from conventional analytical procedures including titrations, precipitations, distillations, solvent extractions, filtrations
- Maintain laboratory- and pilot-scale equipment in good working condition
- Perform general laboratory maintenance and cleaning
Other frequent duties:
- Provide technical support to Research & Development projects, as assigned and directed
- Assist in the design, construction, operation, and continuous improvement of laboratory- and pilot-scale systems
Perform other duties as assigned
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Be available for daily work and overtime as required
- Demonstrate attention to detail
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and to provide technical information and guidance to non-technical parties
- Organize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meeting deadlines
- Provide suggestions to offer alternative perspectives to situations
- Record results, generate computer reports, and process written records on a timely basis
- Ability to choose appropriate mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem
- Work independently or with others as a team to complete assigned projects
- Ability to analyze, report, and explain laboratory data to co-workers and management
- Demonstrate good vision and hearing, corrected to normal, as required for laboratory work
- Knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry, engineering sciences, and statistics
- Capable of applying new knowledge to existing processes
- Ability to maintain a clean and orderly work environment
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree required
- Chemical/Mechanical/Biological Engineering, physical sciences, or related degree preferred
- Junior or Senior class preferred
Experience: Laboratory experience required
- Relevant courses such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, and general chemistry required
- Club participation, and previous internship preferred
Skills:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills required
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, OneNote) required
- Advanced quantitative, mathematical, and statistical skills required
- Knowledge of oils and fats or of other agricultural products and processing preferred
- Knowledge of petroleum industry and products preferred
- Experience with product quality assurance methodologies and troubleshooting (root-cause analysis, statistical quality control, etc.) preferred