Research Chemist Internship

Role Overview

Open Ego is a fragrance technology company that aims to bring ancient wisdom and modern science together to bring back the glory of fragrance heritage of India. We are seeking a hands-on Research Chemist who shapes olfactory experiences. You will be embedded in delivery teams working alongside business enterprise leaders, product developers, brand teams, and client teams to design scents, formulations, and sensory experiences that are distinctive, wearable, and built to work in the real world.

Responsibilities

• Be an original works creator in Fragrance design or a related area where a good understanding of Organic Chemistry and Molecular Chemistry is critical.
• Apply a strong grounding in Organic Chemistry and Molecular Chemistry to understand raw material behaviour, structure-odour relationships, and formulation stability.
• Develop high-fidelity fragrance mockups (mods) and sample batches using industry-standard tools and materials.
• Conduct field research, consumer panels, and sensory evaluation before finalising a single output.
• Build and maintain scalable scent libraries and accord systems with reusable bases and building blocks.
• Design category-specific olfactory patterns: fine fragrance, personal care, home and ambient, and functional/industrial scent applications.
• Champion Green Chemistry principles — sustainable sourcing, biodegradable materials, and reduced-impact formulation approaches.
• Contribute to OpenEgo’s olfactory thinking, frameworks, and IP.

Requirements

• Research acumen in Organic Chemistry, Molecular Chemistry, fragrance design/perfumery, or chemical engineering.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Perfumery, or a related field.
• Extremely good understanding of Organic Chemistry and Molecular Chemistry — structure-odour relationships, functional groups, and raw material synthesis/behaviour.
• Working knowledge of Green Chemistry principles and sustainable formulation practices.
• Knowledge of relevant safety and regulatory standards for ingredients.
• Excellent communication skills to present olfactory decisions to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to Have

• Experience designing scent for AI-driven or smart-home/ambient product categories.
• Familiarity with fragrance encapsulation and delivery-system technologies.
• Advanced coursework or specialisation in Green Chemistry.
• Exposure to service design and consumer field research methodologies.
• Exposure to industrial/functional fragrance.

Skills

• Organic Chemistry