Research & Development - Part-time

PHNX Materials • San Leandro, CA

13d • $25 • Onsite

About The Position

As an R&D Intern at PHNX Materials, you will support the development and refinement of breakthrough technologies that transform industrial ash into clean, valuable products. You will work closely with engineers and scientists to conduct experiments, generate high-quality data, and help translate lab-scale insights into scalable processes.
This is a part-time in-person role (20 hours / week) ideal for a college, Master’s, or PhD student with prior laboratory experience who is highly detail oriented, safety conscious, and excited to work hands-on in an applied R&D environment.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a BS, MS, or PhD program in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, environmental engineering, or a related field.
• Prior laboratory experience required (academic, research, or industry).
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow procedures precisely.
• Comfortable handling chemicals and working in a lab or pilot environment.
• Organized, reliable, and able to track multiple experiments simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with slurry handling, solids processing, or materials characterization.
• Familiarity with SOPs, lab notebooks, or experimental design.
• Interest in industrial decarbonization, materials, or climate tech.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory experiments following established protocols and SOPs.
• Prepare, label, and handle reagents, samples, and test materials safely.
• Assist with bench-scale and pilot-scale experiments under supervision.
• Maintain detailed experimental logs, track results, and flag anomalies.
• Record experimental data accurately and consistently.
• Organize results, observations, and metadata to support analysis and scale-up decisions.
• Support preparation of internal reports, summaries, and presentations.
• Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment.
• Assist with equipment setup, cleaning, calibration, and basic troubleshooting.
• Support inventory management of lab supplies and consumables.
• Follow all lab safety protocols, chemical handling procedures, and PPE requirements.
• Participate in safety trainings and report incidents, near misses, or deviations.
• Help reinforce a strong safety culture within the lab.

Benefits

• Direct exposure to real-world industrial R&D and scale-up challenges.
• Mentorship from experienced engineers and scientists.
• A mission-driven startup environment with meaningful impact.
• Opportunity to contribute to technologies addressing major environmental challenge

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern