Laboratory Intern

at Avient Corporation in McHenry, Illinois, United States Job Description We are seeking a motivated and detailoriented Summer Intern to support our PhDlevel scientists, technical staff and lab manager in polymer processing, compounding, and materials characterization. This internship provides hands-on experience with real laboratory workflows, exposure to advanced polymer technologies, and the opportunity to contribute to active innovation projects, with a focus on our healthcare development efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

Laboratory Processing & Compounding Prepare, weigh, and stage raw materials for extrusion, mixing, and molding trials Assist with operation of lab-scale equipment Support process setup, shutdown, cleaning, and material changeovers Document processing parameters and maintain orderly lab logistics Testing & Characterization Support Prepare samples and operate testing equipment including: Injection molding presses Mechanical testing (tensile, impact, hardness) Rheology and melt flow instrumentation Perform routine data collection, record observations, and ensure data integrity Assist in quality checks, calibration, and equipment readiness Scientific & Operational Collaboration Work directly with PhD scientists and technicians to support experimental plans and research objectives Maintain clear lab notebooks, follow experimental protocols, and participate in team discussions Support continuous improvement in lab safety, organization, and workflow efficiency Essential Duties & Responsibilities Supports the department with all necessary technical, lab testing or clerical work. Supports the department with all necessary project work. Other duties as assigned. Scope This position will support a specific department or business unit. Currently pursuing a BS or MS degree in a relevant STEM field Strong interest in polymers, materials, or chemical processing Demonstrated ability to follow instructions precisely and document work accurately Comfortable with hands-on work, mechanical equipment, and experimental troubleshooting Strong communication, time management, and teamwork skills Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world. Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it's powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you're a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you'll find your place at Avient. Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough! We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business. By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient's strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals. At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person's qualifications, abilities, experience and performance. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran's status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing,ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com. PolyOne is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or other legally protected classification in the state in which a person is seeking employment. PolyOne will use E-Verify to ensure employment eligibility of newly hired employees where required. To view full details and how to apply, please login or create a Job Seeker account