Dr. Carolina Vargas
About Dr. Carolina Vargas
Dr. Carolina Vargas serves as the Senior R&D Manager for Sustainable Raw Materials at Stepan Company, where she focuses on developing effective additives for construction and industrial markets. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Tulane University and has extensive experience in colloid and interface science.
Work at Stepan Company
Dr. Carolina Vargas serves as the Sr. R&D Manager for Sustainable Raw Materials at Stepan Company, a position she has held since 2014. In this role, she operates from the Global Technology Center located in Northfield, IL. Her responsibilities include leading research and development initiatives focused on sustainable raw materials, with an emphasis on creating effective additives tailored for the construction and industrial market segments.
Education and Expertise
Dr. Vargas earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Tulane University, where she studied from 2003 to 2008. Prior to this, she obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Industrial de Santander in Colombia, completing her studies from 1995 to 2002. Her educational background equips her with a strong foundation in colloid and interface science, applicable to various consumer and industrial applications.
Background
Dr. Vargas has extensive experience in research and development, having worked at Minerals Technologies Inc. (formerly AMCOL) as an R&D Innovation Leader in Specialty Materials for a brief period in 2014. She also held a similar position at AMCOL International from 2008 to 2014. Earlier in her career, she served as a research assistant at Tulane University from 2003 to 2008, contributing to various research projects in the Greater New Orleans Area.
Achievements
Dr. Vargas is recognized for her ability to introduce new technologies to both new and existing customers. She has a proven track record of transforming commoditized products into value-added specialty additives. Additionally, her leadership style is characterized by a focus on talent development, and she is noted for her caring approach to team management.