WILMINGTON, DE - DuPont continues to undergo changes and adjustments, this time laying off 200 scientists and researchers, nearly half of the department, from its Central Research and Development division.
This brings the count of layoffs since the announcement of the company’s merger with Dow to nearly 7,000.
"As part of this restructuring, we are redesigning the existing Central Research & Development operating model to assess and seed new, transformational science-based ventures as the next step in the evolution of corporately funded R&D for DuPont," Doug Muzyka, Senior Vice President and Chief Science and Technology Officer at DuPont, wrote in the email, according to Delaware Online.
Post-pink slips, DuPont’s material sciences and molecular sciences (the company’s two core research and development departments) have just 16 doctorate holders left between the two, according to the report.
Muzyka added that the company is also transferring some personnel from CR&D and Engineering into business units to further accelerate growth in order to trim its budget. “The changes we are making to our corporate R&D function, and the related cost reductions, are the product of a careful analysis of how we can improve the overall productivity of our R&D function company wide, maintaining scientific excellence and performing more competitively in the marketplace."
The adjustments since its $130 billion merger early last month have been swift. As we previously reported, the company almost simultaneously announced with the deal that it would be laying off 5,000 employees nationwide, then an additional 1,700 Delaware employees the last week of December.
More changes and cut backs are expected before the first quarter of the year is up, according to Delaware Online, as DuPont and Dow continue to adjust to their new joint corperation.
