Staff Scientist, R&D

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

     

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Staff Scientist, R&D

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position works out of our Woodridge, St. Paul, MN location in the Electrophysiology Medical Device division.   In Abbott’s Electrophysiology (EP) business, we’re advancing the treatment of heart disease through breakthrough medical technologies in atrial fibrillation, allowing people to restore their health and get on with their lives.

What You’ll Work On

As Staff Scientist/Engineer, you will be part of the Materials group in our Science and Technology team focused on delivering the future in medical devices.  The Staff Scientist/Engineer will direct projects based on scientific expertise on testing strategies, execution, and analysis of data for medical device products, including but not limited to:

• Coatings chemistry   
• Rheological analysis including rotational rheology
• Refractive index and density measurements
• Thermal analysis including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermalgravimetric analysis (TGA)
• Vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman spectroscopy)
• Microscopy (optical, confocal, SEM)

Responsibilities:

• Consult with medical device project teams and peers to understand their needs and define test plans to lead problem solving initiatives.
• Perform material characterization and assessment to support medical device project teams with various Materials Science needs.
• Work in a dynamic team environment and have strong interpersonal skills.
• Independently conduct and lead hands-on laboratory analysis and testing.
• Document experiments in a highly regulated environment.
• Knowledge of technical concepts and principles underlying Materials Science techniques.
• Analyze test results and draft technical reports, consult on technical and regulatory strategy and draft technical justifications where testing is deemed to be unnecessary.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.  Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering or related degree/discipline.
• 7+ years of related work experience and/or advanced education in materials science and engineering with focus on coatings or polymers used in medical applications.
• Knowledge of coating properties and applications.
• Knowledge of coatings techniques such as dip coating, brush coating, spray coating.
• Knowledge and technical expertise in testing techniques in materials science:
  • Rheology
  • Vibrational spectroscopy
  • Thermal analysis techniques
• Strong verbal and written communications with ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels in the organization
• Ability to work within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize and meet deadlines in timely manner.
• Strong organizational skills, as well as attention to detail.
  
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree preferred – may substitute for 3 years