“Polymer Characterization:  Measures Linked to Product Performance and Current Challenges for Innovation”

Jackie Thomas, PhD

Principal Scientist

The Procter & Gamble Company

4-5 PM, Monday Oct 27th

Kelly Hall Room 310

There are various phases for characterization of polymers, from Discovery and Synthesis, to Use and Performance, to End of Life.  Each phase may need different levels of characterization.  Various analytical measurement techniques are available to support the different phases from bulk measures to high end measures that push the limits of detection.  Highlighted will be real examples from P&G focused on Use and Performance showcasing the Analytical Tools used detection, visualization, and recycled packaging.  Additionally, current challenges in characterization, such as polymers are often not pure single molecules, but made up of a mixture of like molecules will also be discussed.  Two approaches will be highlighted towards creating “polymer standards” for better fingerprinting of industrial relevant polymers. 

Jackie Thomas, PhD, is currently a Principal Scientist in the Corporate Research organization at P&G.  She joined P&G in 2008 and currently focuses on materials characterizations, complex mixture analysis, and polymer characterization primarily using NMR spectroscopy.  She earned a Ph.D. Degree in Physical Organic Chemistry from Texas A&M University and a B.S. Degree in Chemistry from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  Jackie is very active with ACS, served as Chair of the Local Cincinnati Section in 2016, currently a member of the Polymer Division Industrial Advisory Board, and newly elected as Chair-Elect for the Analytical Division 25/26.  As of 2025, she is also a board member of Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MMI) External Advisory Board at Virginia Tech.  Jackie is originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, married, has two sons, and enjoys spending time with her family.

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The Procter & Gamble Company is the world’s largest consumer products company. They are seeking qualified doctoral candidates, postdocs, and PhD interns in the following areas to join their Research and Development organization:

· Chemistry (all branches - Analytical, Bioanalytical, Organic, Inorganic, Organometallic, Polymers, Materials Science, Physical, Bioinorganic, Biochemistry, Computational Chemistry, etc.)

· Engineering (Chemical, Biomedical, Materials Science, Electrical, Computational Engineering, etc)

· Life Sciences (Pharmacology, Toxicology, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Microbiology, Computational Biology, etc)

· Computer Science, Data Science, Modeling & Simulation

· Mathematics and Statistics (Statistics, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Applied Mathematics)

· Sensory Sciences (Food Science, Neuroscience, Physiology, Psychology)

P&G representatives will be on campus and host a Company Information Session from 5:30 – 7:00 PM on Monday, October 27st in Kelly Hall Room 310. PhD students and Postdocs interested in learning about P&G and potential employment opportunities are welcome to attend the session (food and beverages will be provided!). A listing of our current openings is available at www.pgcareers.com.

You will also have the opportunity to interview with P&G on campus, on October 28th and 29th, 2025. If you are interested in being considered for an interview, please scan the QR code located in the attachment or use this Link to submit your resume and a 1–2-page research summary, on or before October 15th. Please contact Kim Felix, MII Degree Program Administrator, if you need assistance or additional information [Tel: (540) 231-6716; Email: mii@vt.edu].

Thank you,

MII & P&G