Synthetic/Process Chemist Intern/Co-Op (PHD Candidate)

We are seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. candidate in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Process Chemistry, or a related discipline to join our synthetic and process chemistry team. This internship is designed for 4th- or 5th-year doctoral students with a proven track record of research excellence and strong laboratory execution.

The successful candidate will contribute to both synthetic route development and process optimization activities , working closely with experienced chemists to advance challenging chemistry programs from bench-scale synthesis through process development.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step organic syntheses.
• Develop and optimize synthetic routes for target molecules and intermediates.
• Investigate reaction conditions, scale-up considerations, and process robustness.
• Analyze reaction outcomes using standard analytical techniques (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC, GC, etc.).
• Maintain accurate laboratory records and effectively communicate research findings.
• Collaborate with cross-functional scientists to solve synthetic and process-related challenges.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Organic Chemistry, Process Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Preferred 4th- or 5th-year Ph.D. student with demonstrated research productivity.
• Strong foundation in synthetic organic chemistry and reaction mechanism understanding.
• Proven ability to independently plan and execute complex multi-step syntheses.
• Publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability and willingness to temporarily relocate to Akron, Ohio for the duration of the internship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in process chemistry, route scouting, reaction optimization, or scale-up activities.
• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DoE) or process development principles.
• Experience troubleshooting challenging synthetic transformations.

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience in an industrial synthetic/process chemistry environment.
• Exposure to route development, scale-up strategies, and process optimization.
• Mentorship from experienced synthetic and process chemists.
• Opportunity to make meaningful contributions to active research and development programs

An Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE): race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/ national origin/disability