Job Description
United Chemical Technology (UCT) was founded in 1986 by one of the pioneers of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE), Michael Telepchak, who is still active in the Company and continues to works with our team of talented chemist in our research and development department. UCT is a major competitor in the field of silica based phase extraction technology and silane manufacturing.
UCT’s mission is to establish and maintain a leadership position in the specialty chemical market for organosilicon products. Our products serve the environmental, forensics, food and beverage, clinical, pharma and cannabis industries. As a company, we consistently strive to distinguish ourselves from competitors in terms of service, pricing and quality. To accomplish this goal, we continue to invest in the best people, providing them with the finest tools available. Through excellence, UCT is committed to meeting not only the customer’s needs of today but also those of tomorrow.
This role involves developing applications and opportunities in our sample preparation product lines through authoring articles, white papers, posters, and technical presentations. The candidate will be a valued core member of the UCT R&D team, assisting with customer technical support, providing on-site support when required, and traveling with the sales team as needed. Key duties and responsibilities include:
- Drive R&D initiatives by executing laboratory project goals under the guidance of the R&D Team Manager, contributing to new product development, experimental evaluations, and preparation of application notes.
- Independently initiate and develop SPE applications by exploring innovative uses for existing products to expand their applicability in forensic and toxicological workflows.
- Staying current with emerging trends and techniques and applying UCT products to new applications for evaluation and comparison.
- Collaborate with Quality Control as needed to design evaluations and experiments that enhance product testing and performance.
- Publish at least two scientific papers or posters annually on newly developed applications of UCT products.
- Actively participate in professional organizations (e.g., AAFS, SOFT) to expand knowledge of SPE applications in forensic and toxicological fields.
- Provide timely and accurate technical support for customer inquiries and sales requests, addressing their needs effectively.
- Support our technical continuing education program by developing and maintaining training and workshops for the Sales Team, distributors, and customers, educating them on the effective use of UCT products and relevant forensic toxicology knowledge to enable productive sales interactions and technical discussions.
- Must be available to travel up to 30% of time to include applicable conferences and tradeshows, domestic/international customer visits, and distributor training.
- Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, and effective teamwork across the group and other company departments.
- Other duties as assigned.
Skills & Abilities:
- Strong experience in sample preparation method development in an R&D environment, particularly with SPE and QuEChERs products (preferred)
- Proven ability to work independently in the laboratory, utilizing LC-MS/MS and GC-MS instrumentation, while applying analytical problem-solving skills.
- Ability to evaluate current products and recommend improvements for UCT’s products and their applications.
- Highly adaptable and organized, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously and delivering results on schedule.
- Effective collaborator and team leader, with strong communication skills to convey complex technical information and support cross-functional decision-making.
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Toxicology, Chemistry, or a related field, with an emphasis on chemical analysis; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a forensic laboratory performing drug analysis and method development.
- Hands-on experience using sample preparation products (SPE, QuEChERS) in conjunction with GC, LC, GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS.
- Demonstrated ability to develop new methods, establish validation criteria, and define specifications.
- Familiarity with competitors’ products and a strong interest in toxicological analysis.
- Awareness of current industry trends and emerging approaches in analytical method development.
UCT is committed to the principles of equality in employment. It is contrary to our policy to discriminate against individuals because of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, sex (including childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, union affiliation, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, military or veteran status or any other status prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law (“protected category”). Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
UCT explicitly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment or discrimination based on any of the characteristics mentioned above. Improper interference with the ability of other employees to perform their expected job duties will not be tolerated.