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Sr. Research Scientist/Principal Scientist - Oral Care Research & Innovation

Colgate-Palmolive
Piscataway, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 28 Jan 2026
💰 $155,000/yr($109,600/yr$155,000/yr)

About the role

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #171262 - Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

 

Colgate-Palmolive is seeking a highly motivated and proactive Senior Research Scientist/Principal Scientist in the Research & Innovation Oral Care Group, Global R&D. A successful candidate will specialize in developing and designing innovative technologies to enhance stain removal and prevention in  teeth,  resulting in a perceivable change in color and aesthetics of tooth enamel. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative solutions for teeth whitening that can satisfy consumer needs.

 

What you will do

  • Identify and lead new technology initiatives, transforming them into innovative solutions for tooth whitening to satisfy consumer needs.

  • Develop new and enhance existing oral care delivery systems that surpass current products efficacy in stain removal and teeth bleaching.

  • Design and develop new technology solutions for dietary stain management including stain prevention, stain removal, and/or stain breakdown

  • Advance foundational knowledge in the interfacial characterization of bleaching agents,  dietary stains, and their interactions with enamel.

  • Analyze experimental data to illustrate mechanisms of action and enhance product design and development processes.

  • Optimize and implement techniques to study the effectiveness of various materials in providing enhancement in teeth whitening.

  • Conduct initial formula development for new technology options to assess product viability.

  • Manage several independent research projects simultaneously and collaborate with cross-functional teams, leveraging diverse perspectives to achieve key project goals and influence beyond your network.

 

Required Qualifications

  • A minimum of a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry or a related scientific field required.

  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience required

  • Research experience with interdisciplinary applications of chemistry including but not limited to chemistry applications in biological materials or systems, chemistry applications to microbiological systems, interfacial chemistry, bio-inspired materials (ex. ceramics), remediation chemistry, or green chemistry 

 

Preferred  Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in a scientifically relevant field.
  • Post doctoral experience in a scientifically relevant field. 

  • 5+ years of experience in consumer product ingredients/formulations/complex ingredient interactions.

  • Experience in data science or biostatistics, data engineering or database management

  • Expertise in oxidative degradation of organic molecules or polymers, redox reactions, free radical kinetics and mechanisms, or similar fields

  • Ability to interact with multifunctional technical/non-technical personnel and be an effective and engaging participant in a team environment

  • Innovator mindset with a proven track record of creative problem-solving and the ability to connect & translate scientific dots from multiple fields


Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range $109,600.00 - $155,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in

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Company

Colgate-Palmolive

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