Infinium Operations, LLC
Senior Research Scientist
About Infinium
Infinium is a clean fuels innovator with a mission to decarbonize the transportation and chemical sector. Our proprietary ultra-low carbon Electrofuels are a drop-in fuel alternative for trucks, planes and ships and are designed to reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions by upwards of 100% over petroleum fuels. Electrofuels can also be used as a clean alternative in chemical manufacturing processes like plastics production that typically use traditional petroleum-based fuels. Infinium’s proprietary production process follows environmentally responsible protocols, leveraging industrial carbon dioxide waste, renewable power and ‘green’ hydrogen. www.infiniumco.com
Infinium seeks skilled scientific resources to further develop its innovative materials and processes, with an emphasis of extending its current advantages in heterogeneous catalysis – as a critical precursor to commercial implementation by its manufacturing and operations teams, in close collaboration with these resources. The role of Senior Research Scientist has been created, and is now being actively sourced, to fill this critical need. This role will be based at Infinium’s Sacramento, CA location.
The ideal candidate for this role will have earned an advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Chemistry or Materials Science. Other related disciplines, such as Physical or Analytical Chemistry, or closely-related Engineering disciplines, will also be considered – taking into close account the specifics of the candidate’s industrial experience and the skill sets developed. (S)he will have at least 12 years of post-degree (MS) experience – or at least 8 years post-PhD experience – in chemical and materials synthesis in an industrial R&D setting.
Preference will be given to substantial experience in hands-on catalyst materials design, synthesis, characterization, and performance testing. Both experimental design/ implementation skills and strong theoretical understanding and interpretation are essential. A demonstrated understanding and strong track record of RD&D-oriented process and laboratory safety is required.
Specific Responsibilities include:
· Providing materials synthesis expertise to the Technology and Engineering teams to help inform conceptualization of new catalyst constructs, syntheses, and supporting analytical characterization protocols
· Leading the synthesis, implementation, and continuous improvement of Infinium’s catalyst manufacturing processes – for both incumbent and emerging catalyst constructs; specifying needed unit operations, SOPs, QC parameters and characterization protocols, and sourcing and qualifying key reagents and additives
· Assessing feasibility of new catalysts to enable emerging process and product concepts; establishing potential contingency strategies, then pursuing risk reduction and down-selection of options through evaluation and quantification of chemical and physical properties – as well as in-process catalyst performance
· Actively engaging colleague scientists, engineers, technical associates, and operators in materials synthesis, integrated process development, scale-up, and manufacturing campaigns
· Driving laboratory research programs through the synthesis of strategic campaign test plans and designs of experiments (DOEs) – as informed by initial hypotheses and theoretical catalysis construct conceptualizations
· Overseeing the safe execution of experimentation, data reduction and interpretation – documenting and communicating results, learnings, implications, and paths forward – compliant with all pertinent legal requirements, site policies, and company guidelines and safety culture
· Identifying, leveraging, and integrating externally available expertise across pertinent scientific disciplines: chemistry (inorganic, organic, and physical), analytical sciences, materials, surface science, mechanical properties and behavior, etc. - to establish broad-based assessments of compositional and synthesis strategies prior to implementation and scale-up
· Leading strategy formulation and pursuing proof-of-concept demonstrations, through the design and execution of appropriate theoretical investigations and experimental campaign planning.
· Informed by the previously listed activities, also developing and leveraging deep and integrated expertise in relevant materials design and synthesis techniques
· Serving as a subject matter expert in integrated feasibility assessment for scale up – formulating strategic and tactical recommendations for both technology and corporate management
· Becoming expert (and maintaining deep expertise) in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis, intra- and inter-particle heat and mass transfer effects, surface engineering and quantitative characterization, and associated analytical chemistry techniques
· Maintaining expertise and awareness of external developments through professional networking, technical reading, and conference activities
· Working across the Technology and Engineering teams - and with the CTO and CIO – to inform ongoing reassessment of Infinium’s Product Roadmap – and to help set priority target options based on both market attractiveness and scientific feasibility and practicality
