Post-Doctoral Researcher – Physical Chemistry

Location: Clark, NJ
Pay: Up to $36.70/hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday | Hybrid/Onsite — minimum 3 days onsite per week
Duration: 1-year contract-to-hire, with potential for continued employment based on performance and business needs
Employment Type: Full-time
Industry: Global Beauty & Consumer Products / Research & Innovation

Adecco Healthcare & Life Sciences is hiring for a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Physical Chemistry – Colloid & Surface Science with a leading global beauty and consumer products organization known for investing heavily in scientific research, formulation innovation, and advanced product development.

This is an exciting opportunity for a recent PhD graduate to bring academic research expertise into an industrial R&D environment and work on real-world challenges involving complex fluids, colloids, emulsions, dispersions, foams, and multi-phase systems.

You’ll work at the intersection of fundamental physical chemistry and product innovation, developing analytical methodologies and using advanced characterization techniques to better understand how surface, interfacial, and bulk properties influence product stability, performance, application, and sensory characteristics.

What You'll Do

• Develop and optimize analytical methods for characterizing complex fluids and multi-phase systems, including emulsions, dispersions, and foams.

• Conduct bulk and interfacial rheology studies to evaluate flow behavior, yield stress, thixotropy, viscoelasticity, and related properties.

• Perform surface and interfacial tension measurements using advanced tensiometry techniques.

• Apply techniques such as Wilhelmy plate, Du Noüy ring, and pendant drop tensiometry.

• Conduct interfacial rheology studies using oscillating drop/bubble and bicone methodologies.

• Investigate surfactant behavior, self-assembly mechanisms, stabilization dynamics, and relationships between microstructure and macroscopic properties.

• Analyze and interpret complex physical chemistry data and translate findings into clear, actionable scientific insights.

• Collaborate with formulation scientists, research teams, and cross-functional partners to address technical challenges related to product performance and application.

• Communicate scientific findings effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Monitor academic literature, emerging technologies, and developments in colloid and interface science to identify new opportunities and methodologies.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Recently completed PhD in:

  • Physical Chemistry

  • Colloid Science

  • Chemical Engineering

  • Materials Science

  • Or a closely related scientific discipline

• Strong knowledge of complex fluid characterization and the relationship between microstructure and macroscopic properties.

• Hands-on experience with tensiometry techniques, including Wilhelmy plate, Du Noüy ring, and/or pendant drop methods.

• Strong experience with interfacial rheology, including oscillating drop/bubble and/or bicone methodologies.

• Strong understanding of surfactant science, colloidal systems, self-assembly, and stabilization mechanisms.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to explain complex scientific concepts clearly to cross-functional and non-specialist audiences.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

• Ability to work onsite in Clark, NJ at least 3 days per week.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent, ongoing basis. No immigration sponsorship or support is available for this position.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Opportunity to transition advanced academic research into real-world industrial R&D.

• Access to sophisticated laboratory capabilities and advanced analytical methodologies.

• Work on complex scientific problems involving colloids, interfaces, rheology, emulsions, and formulation systems.

• Collaborate with experienced scientists and cross-functional research teams.

• Exposure to projects that directly support the development and performance of consumer products.

• Opportunity for contract-to-hire based on performance and business needs.

• Potential to build valuable industrial research experience following completion of your PhD.

Position Details at a Glance

Location: Clark, NJ
Pay: Up to $36.70/hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday; minimum 3 days onsite per week
Contract: 1 year, with potential for continued employment
Education: Recent PhD required

If you have recently completed a PhD and your research background includes physical chemistry, colloids, interfaces, rheology, tensiometry, or complex fluid characterization, I'd be happy to connect and discuss the opportunity.

Pay Details: $30.00 to $36.70 per hour

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to https://adecco-de.live/en-us/candidate-privacy

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.