At Dow, we believe in putting people first and we’re passionate about delivering integrity, respect and safety to our customers, our employees and the planet.  

Our people are at the heart of our solutions. They reflect the communities we live in and the world where we do business. Their diversity is our strength. We’re a community of relentless problem solvers that offers the daily opportunity to contribute with your perspective, transform industries and shape the future. Our purpose is simple - to deliver a sustainable future for the world through science and collaboration. If you’re looking for a challenge and meaningful role, you’re in the right place. 

About you and this role

We are looking for you, a master student, to support our R&D/TS&D Polyurethane team with  an internship project in Evaluation of contaminants in End of Life (EoL) foams for sustainable chemical recycling for our location in Correggio, Italy

Dow is offering great career opportunities in a global and international environment. The department that will welcome you is the Global Polyurethanes R&D center, dealing with a variety of different industries, such as Construction, Automotive, Furniture, Infrastructure.

Project description 

PU Foam recycling is becoming more and more impactful for achieving circular economy of polymers.

End Of Life foams may contain numerous contaminants which they can interfere or inhibit the recycle technology. Additionally, they can impact the quality of the obtained recycle polyol and therefore the new recycled PU foam. The definition of foam contaminants and their quantification is crucial for a successful recycling process. The intern will conduct PU foam recycling, defining the most common contaminants and their presence threshold.  The recycled polyol will be tested in commercial PU application supporting the development of a new circular process. 

Responsibilities

• Preparation of polyols by foam chemical recycling 
• Analysis of key polyol characteristics 
• PU foaming
• Investigation of lab scale process blends production
• Documentation of the obtained results

Qualifications

• You are currently studying for a master’s degree or equivalent in chemistry, industrial chemistry, physics, material science or similar.
• You have a good knowledge of English. 
• Basic Knowledge of organic chemistry and polymer science.
• You have previously work in a chemistry laboratory.
• You can work in team, you have curiosity and initiative.

Preferred Skills

• Fluent English
• Chemical background
• Good learning skills
• Focus on chemical and process safety.

You can start between January and February in 2025 for a period of 6 months (exact timing to be discussed). 

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. ​​​​Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, Dow is committed to equal opportunities in employment.  We encourage every employee to bring their whole self to work each day to not only deliver more value, but also have a more fulfilling career. Further information regarding Dow's equal opportunities is available on www.dow.com.