Applications Scientist
About The Position
ChemFinity Technologies is building critical mineral recovery systems to produce over 20 minerals from waste and mining feedstocks at low cost, using our proprietary, high-performance, high-durability sorbent filters. Up to a 6x increase in critical mineral demand is expected by 2040, to meet the supplies needed for clean energy, defense, manufacturing, and other technology sectors. However, 80% of U.S. critical minerals already come from foreign sources, and 7% of greenhouse gas emissions come from mining. Our team’s mission is to produce these minerals in ways that are cheaper, cleaner, and more accessible than existing methods such as high-temperature smelting, starting with precious metals like platinum. Spun out of UC Berkeley in late 2022 and based in New York City, ChemFinity is backed by top-tier investor firms and over 10 top government and grant agencies, such as Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Fellows, the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E, and the U.S. EPA. ChemFinity has been recognized as top innovators in the critical minerals sector by the World Economic Forum, Forbes, and Conservation X Labs. ChemFinity seeks an Applications Scientist to support with rapid performance testing, new and ongoing customer projects, and applied R&D work. In this role you will work creatively and hands-on with our team of chemists, engineers, co-founders, and external partners as we build pilots and grow from the lab to industrial scale.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in chemistry, metallurgy, or related field. A Ph.D. is a plus.
- For this role, we are considering a range of experience levels. We are targeting a minimum of 3+ years of industry experience or a Ph.D., ideally in mineral processing, liquid-phase separations, sorbent technologies, water treatment, and/or resource recovery.
- Experience in operating and troubleshooting ICP-OES and/or other similar analytical instruments.
- Strong problem-solving skills, experimental intuition, and fundamental chemistry.
- The desire to be in a dynamic startup environment, own projects, and proactively use critical thinking and team collaboration to solve difficult but impactful challenges.
- An unwavering commitment to high safety standards and supportive work behavior.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in scaling technologies in startups and/or from the lab to full-scale commercialization.
- Proficiency in process or prototype modeling software (e.g., Aspen or AutoCAD).
- Proficiency in programming automated systems and process controls.
- Experience in writing grant applications and detailed technical reports.
- Experience in project management.
Responsibilities
- Perform rapid testing of sorbent and mineral recovery performance whenever new customer samples arrive.
- Support R&D and piloting efforts across the team on proprietary sorbents, critical mineral recovery, and hydrometallurgical leaching.
- Assist scale-up efforts in sorbent synthesis and production.
- Help improve and validate material formulations.
- Conduct ICP-OES and other characterization tests.
- Maintain accurate lab documentation and sample logs.
- Perform full-time hands-on work on-site at our Brooklyn facility.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation including equity options
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- 401(k) benefits with company matching
- Flexible paid time off and holidays
- Health/fitness stipend
- Open, supportive, and diverse team focused on creating major impact
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
