Learned HPLC, GC, FTIR, DSC, TGA, XMET, SFE, GPC, Mass Spec, method development, particle size by Horiba, and various physical test methods.
Gain experience supporting QC at the site and corporate wide, shipping small quantities of hazardous materials to other sites, OSHA regulations, ASTMs, writing test methods, trouble shooting instruments, supporting
– more... technical reps, understanding the effects various additives have on the physical properties of polymer to diagnose problems with their performance, and competitive analysis.
Most of my co-workers had been with the company going 20 years starting out in the QC Lab slowly working their way up to a position in R&D. They did not sharing their knowledge during my training for fear of their job security. Some were more difficult than others to work with.
The most difficult of the job was after I gained proficiency the majority of the tests and cover multiple areas simultaneously.
The most enjoyable parts of the job were the friends I made and the knowledge/experience I gained.
The Huntsman site was bought by Nova Chemicals who let the all 3 R&D lab employees go leaving me to do the bulk of routine testing. Also Nova Chemicals had there own R&D site in PA and were planning on closing my site's R&D program. I chose opportunity the change fields from polymers to pharmaceuticals. – less