Catalyst R&D Co-Op, Fuel Production

Lydian • Boston, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Lydian is developing the lowest cost sustainable fuels from waste CO2, water, and renewable electricity to decarbonize the aviation industry. Our breakthrough technology replaces oil and gas refining with fully electrified, modular, and flexible reactor systems that produce fuel with 95% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel. Since our founding in 2021, Lydian has achieved key milestones in record time, including the production of our first liquid fuel from our pilot system, capable of producing 10,000 gallons of fuel per year for a fraction of the capital and time of alternative approaches. We are building a motivated, diverse, and collaborative team that is passionate about addressing the growing climate crisis and is committed to excellence in their work. In particular, we look for tenacious people who are energized by solving the hardest, highest impact problems that come their way. Lydian is looking for a 6-month Catalyst Development Co-op, Fuel Production for Fall 2026 to be a leader in operating and analyzing data from Lydian’s Fischer-Tropsch (FT) systems, with a focus on time-series data and product selectivity lab methods. Design and develop lab-scale FT test articles through material synthesis, monolith washcoating, and slurry optimization. Leverage insights from data analysis and test article development to collaborate closely with Lydian’s FT reactor design team, driving key design decisions. This is an hourly position based in Boston, MA and has a minimum commitment of 6-months.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. candidate in Chemical Engineering or related field.
• Understanding of reaction kinetics, heat transfer, and mass transport at an undergraduate level.
• Hands-on experience with chemical synthesis and general wet lab techniques.
• Ability to plan, document, and execute experiments; collect and analyze data; and apply statistical analysis (Python proficiency is a plus but not required).
• Strong focus on safe lab practices with foresight to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
• Curiosity, eagerness to learn, and a proactive mindset.
• Desire to work in a fast-paced environment and solve interesting technical problems
• Alignment with our mission, vision, and virtues

Responsibilities

• Own, develop, and execute synthesis plans of candidate catalyst materials with guidance from Lydian engineers.
• Test these materials by loading and operating our lab scale reactor to efficiently identify the most promising formulations for further development.
• Perform analysis of experimental data, prepare reports, and maintain database of catalyst formulations and experimental performance
• Collaborate with other teams to integrate requirements, share insights, and solve technical challenges.

Benefits

• Paid lab/engineering-focused internship with a collaborative in-person technical team
• Challenging, meaningful work that can directly impact company success
• Opportunities for networking/exposure within the climate tech community
• Mentorship from a great team of engineers and scientists

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern