Synthetic/Process Chemist Intern/Co-Op (PHD Candidate) in Akron, Ohio at FLEXSYS

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.

• 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