Associate Scientist, Surfactants

Locus Management LLC•The Woodlands, TX

6h•$71,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

Locus Bio-Energy, Ingredients, Mining, a division of Locus Fermentation Solutions, is seeking an Associate Scientist to support research and product development in a fast-paced laboratory environment. The role conducts laboratory testing, participates in experimental design under senior scientists’ guidance, and assists with method development and data analysis. The Associate Scientist is expected to maintain high standards of safety, documentation, and technical execution while contributing to scientific outcomes. This early-career role offers experience with experimental design, advanced instrumentation, and cross-functional collaboration, with a foundation for growth into Scientist and Senior Scientist positions. The position supports development and testing of biosurfactant technologies for energy, mining, and specialty-ingredient applications. Work includes preparing and testing surfactant samples and formulations, conducting application-specific performance tests, and assisting with laboratory programs that relate field performance and production outcomes to technology effectiveness. The role contributes to product performance specifications, commercialization requirements, scale-up and product decisions, and internal knowledge generation through invention disclosures, publications, and presentations. The Associate Scientist works under general supervision and contributes to experiments and data generation across one or more projects, seeking guidance for non-routine methods and analysis. The position is based on-site in The Woodlands, Texas, with occasional travel.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Chemistry with 10 years of laboratory experience, or a Master of Science with at least 2 years of laboratory experience.
Strong documentation discipline and attention to detail.
Emerging capability in method development and instrumentation.
Commitment to safety, data integrity, and scientific rigor.
Ability to stand for extended periods, up to 6–8 hours per shift.
Frequent fine-motor use of hands and fingers for pipetting, sample preparation, equipment operation, and data entry.
Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
Near vision and color differentiation sufficient to read instruments, labels, and test results.
Ability to work with a computer and laboratory instrumentation for extended periods and to occasionally bend, stoop, reach, and kneel.
Ability to wear required PPE, including gloves, lab coat, eye protection, face shield, and respirator where required.
Ability to work around chemicals, biological materials, odors, varying noise levels, and laboratory or manufacturing conditions, and to respond to alarms, equipment signals, and safety notifications.
Strict adherence to company safety policies, quality systems, standard operating procedures, chemical hygiene procedures, and laboratory housekeeping practices.

Responsibilities

Prepare surfactant samples, solutions, and formulations according to established test methods and protocols.
Conduct physical and chemical surfactant testing, including surface tension, interfacial tension, foam generation and stability, wetting and spreading, emulsion stability, viscosity and rheology, pH, density, and conductivity measurements.
Maintain chemical and sample inventory.
Perform or adapt application-specific performance testing to demonstrate biosurfactant performance advantages over conventional surfactants.
Assist in developing laboratory programs correlating field performance and production outcomes, including analyzing treatment, production, flowback, and tracer data to validate effectiveness and identify optimization opportunities.
Participate in developing biosurfactant-based technologies for energy, mining, and specialty-ingredient industries, and establish product performance specifications and quality requirements for commercialization.
Plan and execute experiments, design of experiments (DOE), and method improvements aligned with project goals.
Operate and troubleshoot analytical instrumentation and ensure data quality and reproducibility.
Translate findings into recommendations for scale-up or product decisions.
Lead major equipment maintenance, optimization, and troubleshooting efforts.
Follow laboratory practices for new product development, stability, and commercialization; identify improvements to testing workflows and reliability; create SOPs and suggest improvements.
Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, electronic files, equipment logs, calibration logs, maintenance records, and equipment-use documentation.
Record test data, observations, and results clearly and promptly in project systems; communicate data insights, trends, and recommendations to scientists and leadership; review and validate documentation from junior team members.
Contribute to invention disclosures, publications, and presentations as appropriate.
Model chemical hygiene and HSE best practices, follow PPE and safety requirements, support audit readiness and laboratory housekeeping, and ensure data traceability.
Provide informal technical support to junior team members; lead training on equipment, documentation, and testing techniques; and support lab organization, supply planning, equipment readiness, calibration, and workflow efficiency.
Drive laboratory continuous-improvement initiatives and support data integrity and knowledge transfer among lab staff.
Partner across functions to progress project milestones and communicate complex results and risks to stakeholders.
Travel occasionally.