Innovation Intern

Covia responsibly provides minerals solutions for a better tomorrow. As a leading provider of diversified minerals, our products support a variety of industrial markets, including glass, ceramics, coatings, metals, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, and sports and recreation. Long-standing relationships with a broad customer base enable Covia's market-inspired approach to innovation to enhance solutions and customer benefits. Underpinning these strengths is an unwavering commitment to safety and to sustainable development, further enhancing the value that Covia delivers to all its stakeholders.

Covia is looking for a motivated Intern who will have a positive impact on the Product Development & Innovation Team at Covia's Innovation Center located in Concord, NC. This Coating Product Developmental and Innovation Intern position provides hands-on exposure to formulation development, testing, application evaluation, and cross-functional collaboration in a real-world industrial environment. The intern will work closely with technical, commercial, and product managers to help develop, improve, and validate coating technologies used in wide variety of coatings applications.

The successful incumbent will have the following Key Accountabilities:

• Support formulation development and optimization of coating systems (e.g., resins, pigments, additives).
• Assist in laboratory testing, including physical, chemical, and performance evaluations.
• Prepare test panels and conduct application trials using standard coating techniques.
• Collect, analyze, and summarize experimental data in technical reports and presentations.
• Support troubleshooting and root cause analysis for formulation or performance issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, manufacturing, quality, and marketing.
• Maintain laboratory safety, organization, and documentation standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and innovation initiatives.

The successful incumbent will have the following Minimum Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Sciences, Polymer Science or a related field of study from an accredited university
• Completion of at least sophomore year by the start of the internship
• Graduate students are also encouraged to apply
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively in a laboratory setting
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous laboratory, internship, or co-op experience
• Coursework or experience related to coatings, polymers, or materials
• Familiarity with basic analytical or test methods (e.g., viscosity, adhesion, hardness, corrosion)
• Interest in industrial or applied product development roles

Internship Locations:

• Concord, NC

Commitment to Our Culture:

Our core values - Safety, Team, Customers, Growth, and Courage-guide our work every day and will help us achieve our vision: Covia is the leading minerals solutions provider, and through the passion and commitment of our people, we enable customer success-ensuring a sustainable future for our company.

All Covia Team Members are expected to:

• Live the Life-Saving Rules
• Build high-performing work teams
• Focus on customers
• Demonstrate a growth mindset
• Do the right thing, always

At Covia, we strive for and support a diverse workforce as we firmly believe this lays the foundation of our success. Our compelling culture supports inclusion, individuality, and respect within the workplace. We are committed to providing employment opportunities to the most qualified candidate based on work-related factors and without regard to non-work-related factors including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or military service or reserve or veteran status.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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