Scientist​/Associate; Ph.D

About Exponent

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges.

Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.

Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning. Thanks for your interest in joining our team!

Key statistics:

• 950+ Consultants
• 640+ Ph.D.s
• 90+ Disciplines
• 30+ Offices globally

Exponent's Polymers and Chemistry practice is currently hiring a Scientist/ Associate to join our consulting staff in our Bowie, MD office. In this role you will work as part of an interdisciplinary team contributing to a diverse set of projects from industries such as consumer products, construction, medical device, energy, pharmaceutical, infrastructure, and transportation. Candidates should have an advanced degree (Ph.D. or equivalent), with some related industrial experience considered a plus.

The successful candidate will possess extensive practical knowledge of the physical, chemical, and mechanical behavior of macromolecules and will be highly skilled in a range of analytical and experimental techniques including rheology, mechanical testing, microscopy, fractography, HPLC, GC, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and DMA. This position requires some travel and will involve collaboration with scientists and engineers from other Exponent offices and practices.

A long-term goal for a successful candidate will be to develop business by obtaining new projects and bringing new clients to the firm.

• Inspections, scientific analysis and testing to address the specification and reliability of polymeric materials in a variety of applications from a wide range of industries.
• Root cause analysis of a wide variety of failures related to issues arising in development, manufacturing, or end-use of products manufactured for the construction, medical device, consumer electronics, and pharmaceutical industries.
• Assignments will require the ability to gather information from and convey technical conclusions to individuals in engineering, business, law, and industry.

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• A strong theoretical and practical knowledge of macromolecules and associated chemical characterization techniques
• Experience with sampling techniques and statistical data analysis for FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, fractography, and microscopy (optical and electron-based techniques)
• Experience with the design, validation, and execution of novel or non-standard testing
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be able to convey complex technical information to individuals in engineering, business, legal, and related industries
• Ability to work within project teams with a strong desire to contribute; have potential for technical and project managerial leadership
• Strong educational and publication credentials
• Presently legally authorized to work in the United States. No immigration sponsorship or processing required

Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) with publications (feel free to include publications that are in review or pending) [not restricted to 1 page].

To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:  

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