Research and Development Specialist Jobs
Research and Development Specialist jobs are open from entry level to senior across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, consumer goods, and manufacturing, with specializations in product formulation, process development, and experimental design. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Argonne National Laboratory in the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group in the Applied Materials Division (AMD) has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to develop materials, membranes, fabrication processes, and advanced characterization for water and critical mineral recovery applications. The researcher is expected to use chemical reaction and solution-based synthesis approaches to fabricate element selective sorbents and membranes. We are seeking candidates who will be able to design experiments and develop methodologies to design material compositions and microstructures to achieve desired physics and mass and charge transport properties.
As part of the Materials Engineering Research Facilities (MERF), the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group perform science-based membrane synthesis and scaleup development by using roll-to-roll manufacturing and machine learning enabled in-line characterization and quality control methods. The group works closely with industry partners and academic collaborators to address real-world manufacturing challenges and develop next-generation energy-storage and conversion solutions.
The candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team with researchers at MERF and collaborators inside and outside Argonne. The candidate is expected to design and conduct experiments, analyze data and explore mechanisms behind the experimental observations, prepare technical reports and manuscripts, and support future project applications.
Major Duties / Responsibilities:
- Synthesize monomer and polymer materials for polymer membranes and sorbents development.
- Conduct surface modification and functionalization to membranes and sorbents to achieve target separation properties.
- Formulate and synthesis inks for membrane deposition, including electrospinning, slot-die coating, and 3D printing.
- Design composite and hybrid materials and membranes to enhance selectivity and permeance of membranes or separation factors, adsorption capacity and kinetics, and chemical stability of sorbents.
- Conduct structure, microstructure, physics and chemical properties of materials, as well as transport, separation, and electrochemical properties of membranes.
- Develop techniques and strategies for postmortem characterization of membranes to understand fouling, scaling, and membrane failure mechanism.
- Write reports and high-impact papers and present research at conferences.
- Develop or support the development of collaborations with academia and industry.
Position Requirements
- Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (typically completed within the last 0-5 years) in chemical engineering, material science, or related fields.
- Demonstrated knowledge in materials synthesis and characterization.
- Demonstrated knowledge in membranes, water treatment, and element extraction.
- Demonstrated knowledge of transport property study such as electrochemical properties of ion-exchange membranes, permeance and selectivity tradeoff in pressure-driven membranes.
- Experience in polymer material and sorbent synthesis.
- Experience in surface functionalization.
- Experience in coating, printing, or any other wet-chemistry deposition techniques.
- Experience using analytical tools, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy. (SEM and TEM), spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman, XPS), composition analysis (HPLC, ICP-MS), and electrochemical (EIS).
- Publication record with excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability/aptitude to contribute to proposal writing, write reports, and publish journal papers and patents.
- Skilled oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- A successful candidate must model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
- This position requires full-time, on-site presence, five days a week at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with casting or slot-die coating.
- Experience with chemical synthesis.
- Experience of sorbent synthesis and adsorption study.
- Experience with electrospinning.
- Experience with aerosol jet printing or 3D printing is a plus
- Highly self-motivated candidate who demonstrates creative and proactive approaches towards scientific problem solving as evidenced by publications and recommendations.
- Proven track record showing the ability to carry out independent and collaborative research in a multidisciplinary team while meeting project milestones and deadlines.
Job Family
PostdoctoralJob Profile
Postdoctoral AppointeeWorker Type
Long-Term (Fixed Term)Time Type
Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00.Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!
As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
Argonne National Laboratory in the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group in the Applied Materials Division (AMD) has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to develop materials, membranes, fabrication processes, and advanced characterization for water and critical mineral recovery applications. The researcher is expected to use chemical reaction and solution-based synthesis approaches to fabricate element selective sorbents and membranes. We are seeking candidates who will be able to design experiments and develop methodologies to design material compositions and microstructures to achieve desired physics and mass and charge transport properties.
As part of the Materials Engineering Research Facilities (MERF), the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group perform science-based membrane synthesis and scaleup development by using roll-to-roll manufacturing and machine learning enabled in-line characterization and quality control methods. The group works closely with industry partners and academic collaborators to address real-world manufacturing challenges and develop next-generation energy-storage and conversion solutions.
The candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team with researchers at MERF and collaborators inside and outside Argonne. The candidate is expected to design and conduct experiments, analyze data and explore mechanisms behind the experimental observations, prepare technical reports and manuscripts, and support future project applications.
Major Duties / Responsibilities:
- Synthesize monomer and polymer materials for polymer membranes and sorbents development.
- Conduct surface modification and functionalization to membranes and sorbents to achieve target separation properties.
- Formulate and synthesis inks for membrane deposition, including electrospinning, slot-die coating, and 3D printing.
- Design composite and hybrid materials and membranes to enhance selectivity and permeance of membranes or separation factors, adsorption capacity and kinetics, and chemical stability of sorbents.
- Conduct structure, microstructure, physics and chemical properties of materials, as well as transport, separation, and electrochemical properties of membranes.
- Develop techniques and strategies for postmortem characterization of membranes to understand fouling, scaling, and membrane failure mechanism.
- Write reports and high-impact papers and present research at conferences.
- Develop or support the development of collaborations with academia and industry.
Position Requirements
- Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (typically completed within the last 0-5 years) in chemical engineering, material science, or related fields.
- Demonstrated knowledge in materials synthesis and characterization.
- Demonstrated knowledge in membranes, water treatment, and element extraction.
- Demonstrated knowledge of transport property study such as electrochemical properties of ion-exchange membranes, permeance and selectivity tradeoff in pressure-driven membranes.
- Experience in polymer material and sorbent synthesis.
- Experience in surface functionalization.
- Experience in coating, printing, or any other wet-chemistry deposition techniques.
- Experience using analytical tools, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy. (SEM and TEM), spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman, XPS), composition analysis (HPLC, ICP-MS), and electrochemical (EIS).
- Publication record with excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability/aptitude to contribute to proposal writing, write reports, and publish journal papers and patents.
- Skilled oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- A successful candidate must model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
- This position requires full-time, on-site presence, five days a week at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with casting or slot-die coating.
- Experience with chemical synthesis.
- Experience of sorbent synthesis and adsorption study.
- Experience with electrospinning.
- Experience with aerosol jet printing or 3D printing is a plus
- Highly self-motivated candidate who demonstrates creative and proactive approaches towards scientific problem solving as evidenced by publications and recommendations.
- Proven track record showing the ability to carry out independent and collaborative research in a multidisciplinary team while meeting project milestones and deadlines.
Job Family
PostdoctoralJob Profile
Postdoctoral AppointeeWorker Type
Long-Term (Fixed Term)Time Type
Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00.Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!
As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
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Find JobsResearch and Development Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research and development specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in chemistry, biology, engineering, or a related science field
- Hands-on experience designing, executing, and documenting laboratory experiments
- Proficiency with statistical analysis tools and design of experiments methodologies
- Familiarity with regulatory documentation standards such as Good Laboratory Practices
- Experience interpreting analytical data and preparing technical reports for cross-functional teams
- Knowledge of relevant industry compliance frameworks such as ISO or FDA guidelines
Tips for Your Research and Development Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to lab methods
List the specific analytical techniques and equipment you've used, such as HPLC, spectroscopy, or design of experiments software. Hiring managers scan for exact methodology names, not general phrases like 'conducted research' or 'performed testing.'
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists research and development specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight cross-functional project contributions
R&D specialists who document how their work fed into regulatory submissions, cost-reduction initiatives, or product launches stand out. Describe your role in those outcomes, not just the experiments you ran.
Target postings by development stage
Filter openings by whether a company focuses on early discovery, scale-up, or commercialization. Your experience likely fits one stage better than others, and aligning your application to that stage makes your background immediately relevant.
Prepare technical examples for interviews
R&D interviews frequently involve a problem-solving scenario or a walkthrough of a past project. Prepare two or three examples where you identified a failure mode, iterated on a protocol, and reached a measurable outcome you can describe without proprietary detail.
Negotiate scope alongside compensation
When evaluating an offer, ask specifically about lab budget access, publication rights, and IP assignment clauses. These terms shape your ability to build a portfolio and move into senior roles, and they're negotiable before you sign.
Research and Development Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most research and development specialists?
WellSpan Health, Acoufelt, and Harvard University are hiring the most research and development specialists right now, with openings concentrated in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and specialty chemicals companies consistently make up the largest share of active postings.
How many research and development specialist jobs are remote?
About 75% of research and development specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the lab-dependent nature of most roles. Sub-areas with more remote availability include data analysis, regulatory documentation, formulation review, and project coordination functions that don't require direct bench work.
How do you become a research and development specialist?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in a relevant science or engineering discipline, then gain hands-on lab experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level technician roles. Build proficiency in the analytical methods and software common to your target industry. Many specialists move into the title after two to four years in a laboratory or quality role, then pursue a master's degree to advance into senior or principal positions.
How do you get hired as a research and development specialist with little experience?
Focus on roles titled research associate, laboratory technician, or formulation technician, which are common entry points that feed directly into specialist positions. Document any independent research, senior thesis work, or industry project experience in your resume with specific methods and outcomes. Applying to companies with structured development programs in sectors like consumer goods or specialty chemicals increases the chance of being considered for a growth track without an extensive prior record.
What does the research and development specialist interview process look like?
Most processes begin with a recruiter screen focused on your technical background and industry fit, followed by a technical interview with a hiring manager or senior scientist. Candidates are typically asked to walk through a past project in detail, explain how they handled an unexpected result, and sometimes complete a written or practical problem-solving exercise. A final round often includes a panel with cross-functional colleagues from quality, manufacturing, or regulatory affairs.
Where can I find and apply to research and development specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to research and development specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that fit your background, industry focus, and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that matches what you're looking for.
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