Principal Scientist Polymer Rheology

Avery Dennison is seeking an accomplished Principal Scientist to provide technical leadership in Polymer Rheology and Processing within the Global Materials Science and Characterization (MSC) organization. This role combines deep scientific expertise laboratory leadership and organizational capability building to advance the understanding of complex polymeric systems and accelerate innovation across Avery Dennisons global businesses. 

The successful candidate will be recognized as a subject matter expert in polymer rheology viscoelasticity soft materials polymer processing with a proven ability to translate fundamental science into practical solutions for product development manufacturing quality and customer challenges. Working across pressure-sensitive adhesives functional films coatings and laminates this individual will leverage structure-property-process relationships to solve critical technical problems create new characterization approaches and drive innovation. 

In addition to technical excellence this role requires a mature scientific leader who can mentor and develop scientists and technicians guide technical priorities strengthen organizational capabilities and foster a culture of scientific rigor collaboration and continuous learning.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the global subject matter expert in polymer rheology viscoelasticity and polymer processing

• Lead the Rheology and Thermal Characterization Laboratory establishing technical priorities and ensuring delivery of high-quality impactful results aligned with business needs.

• Mentor coach and develop scientists engineers and technicians while fostering technical excellence and capability growth across the organization.

• Conceive develop and execute innovative experimental approaches to understand and predict material behavior under complex thermal mechanical chemical and processing conditions.

• Lead experimental investigations into rheological and thermal behavior of adhesives (including emulsion hot melts rubbers suspension solvent) coatings films and related soft material systems and laminates.

• Expertly connect mechanical response and processing behavior to the polymer composition molecular weight and its distribution architecture network topology and fundamental properties using polymer physics scaling laws. 

• Evolve holistic sum total interpretation and guidance along with other analytical methods and subject matter experts.

• Partner closely with R&D Product Development Manufacturing Quality and Operations teams globally to solve critical technical challenges and enable successful commercialization. 

• Drive the evolution of characterization capabilities through the identification evaluation and implementation of emerging analytical techniques and methodologies including custom purpose-built instrumentation to study a given phenomenon.

• Oversee laboratory operations instrumentation budgets and technical resources to ensure safe efficient and effective execution.

• Communicate technical findings effectively through reports presentations publications and technical reviews with internal and external stakeholders. Work in a manner to institutionalize knowledge through the development and curation of model-ready databases in support of the overall R&D digitalization strategy.

• Maintain a strong commitment to safety operational excellence and scientific integrity.

Qualifications :

• Ph.D in Polymer Science Polymer Engineering Chemical Engineering Materials Science or a related discipline.

• 10 years of industrial experience in polymer rheology soft materials characterization polymer processing or related fields.

• Demonstrated experience in rheological characterization of polymer melts solutions dispersions adhesives and other viscoelastic soft materials.

• Extensive hands-on experience with rotational capillary and extensional rheometry DMA DSC TGA TMA and related characterization techniques.

• Proven ability to solve complex technical problems through the application of structure-process-property principles. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence technical and business stakeholders.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience leading mentoring or developing scientists engineers and technical staff in an industrial R&D or analytical sciences environment.

• Expertise applying rheology to guide polymer synthesis adhesive development extrusion coating converting or high-speed web processing operations.

• Demonstrated record of scientific leadership through publications patents conference presentations or significant business impact. 

• Experience building laboratory capabilities implementing new methodologies and driving strategic technical initiatives.

• Ability to operate effectively across fundamental science product development and manufacturing environments.

• Experience in working within global cross-functional teams.

• Less than 15% travel anticipated for this role.

Additional Information :

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin sexual orientation gender identity disability protected veteran status or other protected status. EEOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and productive work environment Avery Dennison requires all final candidates to successfully complete a comprehensive background check and a drug screening. These checks are conducted post-offer and are a condition of employment. All results will be considered in accordance with applicable local state and federal laws. 

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Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time