Application Scientist

This Application Scientist position will support KaMin’s Engineered Solutions (ES) business and is located at the Gordon Technical Center in Gordon, GA. Reporting to the ES Applications Manager, this position is focused on providing accurate, timely generation of mineral-based application/characterization data with analysis supporting the ES markets.

The Application Scientist is a critical position that will work closely with commercial and marketing groups, as well as operations, quality, and R&D personnel to handle analytical and application testing projects of complex nature. Activities entail characterizing product quality, developing and owning experimental research plans that address unique customer problems, and accurately analyzing data and communicating conclusions. Additional efforts will involve the development of new procedures, modification of existing procedures for experimental work and laboratory administration (e.g., ISO, Safety, etc.), and conducting training for new/existing employees on these procedures. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: 

• This position will likely supervise one or more hourly/salaried skilled employee(s).
• Independently develop and execute experimental research plans that address unique customer problems. Help resolve customer issues by choosing appropriate analytical test methods to yield meaningful results.
• Support various R&D and plant improvement projects; on-occasion assist in troubleshooting plant issues.
• Document findings and report results in a timely manner. Collaborate with R&D, commercial, production, quality teams when interpreting/communicating results.
• Continuously strive to improve analytical skills by operating the analytical instruments and interpreting the results from these tests. Example instruments include scanning electron microscope with EDS, XRF and MP-AES for quantitative elemental analysis, XRD with Jade software for peak identification, various particle size measurement techniques, among others. Maintain familiarity with current scientific literature and contribute expertise to help solve intra/interdepartmental problems.
• Assist with the maintenance and upkeep of instruments in the Analytical Lab. Help ensure instruments (examples above) are operational; troubleshoot instruments and service or schedule service as needed.
• Develop calibration and verification procedures to ensure the instruments are up to date for providing accurate and reliable results. Comply with SOPs, analysis records, and controlled documentations.
• Develop new analytical and/or application-specific characterization techniques for assessing kaolin clay properties that would be used as guiding tools for current customer support or development of new kaolin clay products.
• Provide input for justification of the purchase of new equipment with enhanced capabilities that are vital to address customer issues, production support, R&D projects and to help better understanding the properties of kaolin and other materials.
• Train and supervise lab personnel (including lab technicians and temporary personnel such as summer interns and temp lab technicians) in experimental and administrative procedures and equipment operation and maintenance to ensure appropriate technical support to the R&D, technical, operations and commercial teams in a timely manner.
• Perform and document laboratory work and interact with essential personnel, suppliers, and customers.  Assist R&D, operations and technical service representatives in developing new products and lower cost/more efficient process technologies that are beneficial to production and for our customers.
• Upon project completion, write comprehensive reports/presentations and orally present observations, conclusions, and recommendations to relevant stakeholders. Treat data with the highest level of integrity and ethics.
• Help prepare and/or modify procedures both for experimental analytical work and associated laboratory administration, e.g. ISO, safety, etc.  Additionally, provide specific technical expertise and organizational skills necessary to maintain safe and efficient functioning of the laboratory and its equipment.
• Conscientious with safety procedures and knowledgeable of hazardous waste procedures.
• Formulate research hypotheses and prove/disprove corresponding hypotheses through performing experiments, analyzing results, and drawing accurate conclusions based on the results.
• Follow KaMin policies, practices and ethics in the performance of individual duties.

 Major Challenges:

• Working independently and simultaneously on multiple projects with limited direct oversight.
• Adapt to changing laboratory and business priorities.
• Must be able to multi-task, plan, and communicate well with others.

Competencies: 

• 5+ years related experience in a minerals or related application support/scientist type role. Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, geosciences, or related discipline. Master’s degree or doctorate considered a plus. Salary will be commensurate with education and years of experience.
• Must have a desire to learn, be receptive to feedback, and possess a growth-oriented mindset and coachable personality.
• Demonstrated strong collaboration and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must have excellent working knowledge of data analysis techniques utilizing statistics and understand how to make sound recommendations based on data.
• Demonstrated ability to use interpersonal skills to interact and communicate well with others
• Demonstrated ability to organize time and priorities to effectively stay on track regarding project timeline.
• Writes clear, concise summaries of research findings, memos, and instructions/procedures which others can understand; verbally transmits ideas, instructions, and information so they are clearly understood by others.
• Ability to compose and deliver effective technical presentations to relevant project stakeholders.