Faces of Lubricants: Devin Granger
Nov 05, 2019
Devin Granger is a chemist for the oilfield and lubricants innovations team and has been with Ingevity for nearly a year. With his extensive chemistry background and curious attitude, Devin has been a great addition to the oilfield and lubricants technologies group. While expanding his knowledge of Ingevity’s lubricants products and formulations, Devin will continue to lead the R&D effort in developing a new product for the grease market.
Describe your typical day in the Ingevity oilfield and lubricants technologies lab.
I am a chemist in the innovation group of the Oilfield and Lubricants Technical team at our headquarters. Since I started in January 2019, I have been learning the fundamentals of Ingevity chemistries, products and testing capabilities. I’ve also had the opportunity to identify new applications for our materials or new derivatives for specific applications. My typical day includes setting up a reaction in the morning, monitoring the reaction through the day while reading literature on oilfield or lubricant technologies and discussing results with other colleagues.
Tell us about the experience you bring to your role.
I received my PhD in chemistry from the University of Kentucky in August of 2017. My dissertation was focused on opto-electronic properties and crystal engineering of several classical acenes and some novel organic chromophores. I also have a master’s degree in chemical research from the University of Reading (Reading, England, UK) where I studied novel polymeric materials for fuel cell membrane applications, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Transylvania University. I came to Ingevity from a post-doctoral position at the University of Nevada, Reno where I synthesized 3-dimensional molecules for use in 2-D polymerization experiments. Previously, I was a research chemist at 3-H, and a chemical technician in Lexmark International’s R&D toner division.
Describe your involvement with the Lubricants team and the grease project underway.
I help where I can with the lubricants team, mainly with synthetic work as my knowledge of lubricants is still rather limited on both the technical and commercial ends. I’ve run through the synthesis of some lubricants products and hope learn more about lubricants formulations.
I’m heading up the R&D effort involving a grease application—something new to the Ingevity team. I originally took on the task of developing basic knowledge surrounding greases by studying previous Ingevity testing and literature. I spent a fair amount of time reading these materials, learning about how the components of greases interact, in order to have meaningful conversations with others in the grease business about potential additives derived from Ingevity products. We are currently working with a group of researchers at the University of Akron and testing that is underway.
What do you believe sets Ingevity’s technical / innovation teams apart?
There is a lot of collaboration between groups and business units. I have experienced this the most regarding equipment usage, but this also applies to technical expertise. There have been several occasions when someone in the industrial specialties group has let me borrow equipment, use their instruments and trained me on specific reactions. This atmosphere of collaboration helps shape projects and drive them toward completion.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I grew up in rural Kentucky, between Barlow and Wickliffe.
When you’re not being an awesome chemist, what do you enjoy doing with your free time?
I enjoy hiking, camping and rock climbing. I unfortunately haven’t had much time or good areas to go since I moved to the area earlier this year.
Name one thing about your work that gets you out of bed in the morning.
I greatly enjoy hands on work, and there is usually no shortage here.
Do you have any hobbies you’d like to begin?
I would like to start woodworking again, if I can manage to find the space.
What is special about the place you grew up?
The remoteness of the area is what I enjoyed the most growing up. There were always places to hike, hunt and fish, or even just be alone. It’s hard not to miss the peace and quiet since moving to a city.
Who inspires you to be better?
My wife, Chasity.
Among your friends or family, what are you famous for?
I was in college for so long, many of my friends and family thought I wouldn’t ever make it out!
