R&D - Intern PEKK Job

Internship Opportunity at Arkema Inc. (1 year, starting Q4 2023 or later)

Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and sustainable materials. With the ambition to become in 2024 a pure player in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into three complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials - Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions - accounting for some 80% of Group sales, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of €11.5 billion ($12.6 billion) in 2022, and operates in 55 countries with 20,500 employees worldwide.

Arkema’s Kepstan® PEKK materials are ultra-high-performance thermoplastic polymers. They are designed for specialty applications, such as 3D printing and aerospace, that require extreme performance in mechanical strength, chemical resistance, barrier properties, and high temperature use.  

During this internship, you will be familiarized with Arkema's products and processes, with emphasis on our Kepstan® PEKK product line – specifically the manufacturing process and quality control methodology. You will work at our production facility in Mobile, Alabama, and you will support our team’s effort to produce high quality materials for our customers. More specifically, you will conduct experimental studies designed to optimize the methodology used in our Quality Management system (QMS). Your missions will include:

• Improving the accuracy of current analytical methods.
• Developing analytical methods to meet the need of applications with more demanding specifications
• Implementing quality control methods directly in the production areas.
• Entering data in QMS system to support the release of materials for sale.

Daily activities in the lab will include melt processing of polymers, chromatography, viscosity and thermal analysis, color measurement, and elemental characterization. You will be supervised by the R&D Process & Quality Specialist, and you will work with the quality, process, and production engineers to gain an understanding of the factors affecting the quality of our materials. You will also interact frequently with our R&D analytical research team located in King of Prussia, PA, working with experts in various analytical techniques.

Qualifications:

• Studying a Bachelor's Degree or above in Chemical Engineering, Material Sciences, or similar.
• Fluent in English.
• Demonstrated problem solving skill, attention to detail, and record keeping.
• Good interpersonal skills, and effective communication both verbally and in writing.
• Strong laboratory skills. Experience with specific analytical techniques on polymers is a plus.
• Proficiency with computer software applications (Word, Excel, etc.) and data analysis.

Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and sustainable materials. With the ambition to become in 2024 a pure player in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into three complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials - Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions - accounting for some 80% of Group sales, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of €11.5 billion ($12.6 billion) in 2021, and operates in 55 countries with 20,500 employees worldwide.

The diversity of its employees is an asset that the Arkema group wants to preserve. Its non-discrimination policy applies to recruitment, salary levels and career management. The Arkema group is committed to ensuring diversity among its employees.

Arkema Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Arkema Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence.