Principle Scientist, Formulations

Description

Site Overview

Since 1900, Young Dental’s philosophy has been to create, innovate, and support the dental industry with exceptional products. Today, we are proud to be one of the world’s largest manufacturers of disposable prophy angles and preventive dental products.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS:

Under supervision of the Director of Product Development, this position will serve as the lead technical resource for chemical, cutting-edge research at Young Innovations.  This person would lead activities to identify, make feasibility assessments and develop in vitro test models for evaluating different technologies primarily within the caries management and wound healing segments of dental research.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Work with internal and external resources to facilitate the advancement of knowledge and an early-stage product pipeline for the caries management and wound healing.  Products may range between medical devices, combination products or drugs; and may be developed for multiple jurisdictions around the world.

Specific Processes:

• Maintain diligence around state-of-the-art technologies through:
  • Review patents, published literature and clinical trials to understand new technologies being developed and the individuals or companies doing that research.
  • Attend research symposiums to review new research and build rapport with other researchers in these areas of expertise.
  • Understand current “gold standards” for evaluating these technologies with in vitro models.
  • Create a working list of known technologies along with assessments of strengths, weaknesses and general feasibility.
• Perform feasibility assessments of internal or externally identified technologies:
  • Use knowledge of chemistry and new technologies to make initial feasibility assessments of products.
  • Incorporate new technologies into basic formulations of paste, varnish, gels or other substrates that could be used in a dental setting.
  • Create and maintain a database of evaluated technologies along with any formulation trade secrets that are discovered in the research process.
• Develop and Execute in vitro models that can approximate results of longer and more expensive animal evaluations.
  • Utilize cross-functional expertise around the company to complete evaluations of new products, as needed.
  • Develop new test methods as needed to provide an “apples-to-apples” comparison of new technologies.
  • Identify new equipment that is necessary for faster or better evaluations methods.
• Provide written and verbal reports to assist in the process of identifying which formulations should move on to development stages.
• Provide project management leadership and communication for multiple projects, simultaneously ensuring timelines and budgets are appropriately managed and goals are achieved.  Assess open projects with current resource work-load to accurately determine ability to maintain project progress.
• Contributes to the evaluation of Capital Expenditures (CapEx) projects ensuring the appropriate (and current) technology is utilized and will provide the process capability and/or ROI sustainability for each project 

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering
• 5 Years of experience in dental, medical device, or pharmaceutical product research, with demonstrated ability to complete research independently and through groups. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

• Must be results-oriented and capable of managing multiple tasks in a dynamic environment. 
• Must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of formulation chemistry and analytical chemistry.
• Must have a demonstrated, high-level expertise in at least one of the following areas:
  • Chitosan Formulations
  • Dispersions of nanoparticles such as gold or silver
  • Fluoride, nanohydroxyapatite or other remineralization agents
  • Peptides
  • Antioxidants or other wound healing technologies
• Must be a team player with strong interpersonal skills who can delegate work tasks to effectively complete projects and create win-win situations when possible.
• Must also work independently and take a hands-on approach to the work.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and be capable of interacting with all levels of management.
• Advanced knowledge of product and process FMEA
• Intermediate knowledge of statistics
• Intermediate knowledge of Project Management - MS Project or SmartSheets preferred
• Intermediate knowledge of MS Word and Excel software
• Basic knowledge of dental products or medical devices

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Office environment, with Sitting and Standing for long periods of time. 
• Occasional exposure to manufacturing plant environment, with some abnormal variations in temperature, unavoidable fumes, noise, dust and atmospheric conditions. 
• Periodic lifting or moving objects 40 lbs. or less.
• Ability to travel 30% or less. Visit sister facilities, trade shows, vendors, or external partners. 

Young Innovations, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and E-Verify participating employer.