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Sr Scientist, Critical Materials

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Date: Jun 2, 2026

Location: Corning, NY, US, 14831

Company: Corning

Requisition Number: 75422

 

The company built on breakthroughs. ​  
Join us.​                    

                                                          

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.  ​  

 

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations – not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company, and the world, forward. ​  

 

​At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.​   

 

Come break through with us.  

 

Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with: 

  • Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
  • Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
  • Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
  • Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences 
  • Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation 
  • Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions

Role Purpose

This role serves as a key synthetic chemist supporting Corning’s strategic efforts in Critical Materials, including pharmaceutical intermediates, energetic materials, and critical minerals. The position centers on innovation in material synthesis and extraction using AFR technology as a core enabling platform, with responsibilities spanning synthetic route design, process development, data generation, IP support, and cross-functional project leadership and execution.

Key Responsibilities

  • Designing novel molecules and reaction pathways to enable efficient synthesis and processing of target materials across batch and flow platforms.
  • Developing, optimizing, and scaling chemical processes, including reaction screening, condition optimization, troubleshooting, and translation from lab-scale to pilot or production-relevant systems.
  • Driving innovation in critical minerals extraction, leveraging fundamental chemistry principles to improve yield, selectivity, cost-efficiency, and process robustness.
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including materials characterization, engineering, and project management, to deliver integrated solutions and meet project objectives.
  • Ensuring safe and effective laboratory operations, including contributing to the development and continuous improvement of safety practices, protocols, and compliant experimental workflows.
  • Monitoring scientific and technological trends in synthetic chemistry, process chemistry, and related fields (including flow chemistry) to identify and drive new opportunities for innovation and business impact.
  • Collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and documenting experimental data to support technical decision-making, intellectual property generation, and patent filings.

Travel requirements / Work Hours

  • Up to 10 % in North America
  • 40 hours / week; flex time as needed

Experiences/Education - Required

  • PhD degree in Polymer or Organic Chemistry is required.
  • Familiarity with analytical techniques such as NMR, GC-MS, UPLC, and FTIR.
  • Experience in critical mineral extraction is highly preferred.
  • US citizen or permanent resident is highly preferred.

Desired Skills

  • Demonstrated experience with batch synthesis of small organic molecules and/or polymers, including synthesis, purifications, and characterizations; experience in scale-up is highly preferred.
  • Excellent documentation and data analysis skills for intellectual property and reporting.
  • Effective communication skills, including the ability to interact with customers and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Experience working in a fast-paced project environment to meet deadlines.

 

This position supports immigration sponsorship.

 

The range for this position is $87,079.00 - $119,734.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. 

 

A job that shapes a life.  

Corning offers you the total package.  

 

Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

  • Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
  • As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
  • Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.  
  • Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions. 

 

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

 

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at accommodations@corning.com.


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