R&D PhD Summer Intern, Polymer Synthesis

About the Role

This is a 12-week paid internship at Procter & Gamble, focused on Polymer Synthesis within the R&D department. The internship is designed for individuals working towards a PhD.

• Duration: 12 weeks
• Schedule: Full time
• Location: Mason Business and Innovation Center
• Internship Dates: May (potentially early June) to August of 2027

The Opportunity

This PhD internship focuses on understanding structure-property relationships in polymeric materials. The intern will synthesize and characterize polymer systems, investigate how molecular architecture influences material behavior, and generate experimental data to evaluate and refine computational model predictions. The role involves working at the interface of materials development and simulation.

Key Responsibilities

• Synthesis of polymer materials with controlled molecular architectures.
• Structural characterization of synthesized materials using analytical techniques.
• Preparation and testing of materials to evaluate physical and mechanical properties.
• Comparison of experimental results with computational model predictions.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Working toward a PhD in Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in a broad range of polymer synthesis and modification techniques, including the functionalization of polysaccharides and other natural materials.
• Ability to independently select, execute, and interpret polymer characterization methods, including NMR, SEC/GPC, FTIR, rheology, thermal analysis, and related analytical methods.
• Experience preparing and testing materials to evaluate physical, mechanical, and performance properties.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and execute laboratory research, including polymer synthesis, characterization, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Ability to troubleshoot experimental challenges and solve complex technical problems.
• Experience documenting, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating scientific data and results.
• Ability to work onsite at the Mason Business and Innovation Center a minimum of 3-5 days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with polymer physics, soft materials, molecular modeling, molecular simulation, coarse-grained modeling, self-consistent field theory, or other computational approaches.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Proficiency with Python-based scientific computing and data analysis tools.