Research Associate

Phospholutions•State College, PA

27d•$44,000 - $50,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Phospholutions, our mission is simple. We are enhancing the efficiency of global phosphorus use. Phospholutions, Inc. is an award-winning and venture-backed agtech start-up company enhancing global phosphorus use. Phospholutions is experiencing exponential growth after the commercial launch and now rapid global expansion of our proprietary RhizoSorb® technology. This technology helps to lower the environmental impact of fertilizers and is optimizing the use of inputs for growers resulting in better plant health. Supported by years of university research, extensive field testing, and backed by leading industry investors, our team is focused on the global expansion of RhizoSorb® technology. To support our team, we are hiring a Research Associate. This is an on-site position at our company’s headquarters in State College, PA and will report to our Senior Materials Scientist. If you are a resourceful, focused and innovative research professional who enjoys problem solving, have great attention to detail, exercise good judgement, and are able to maintain a safe research laboratory, we highly encourage you to apply for this position! We value energy, passion, authenticity, creativity…and results! The individual hired for this position will assume ownership of and perform a diverse range of tasks, becoming an indispensable partner to our Research & Development (R&D) team by helping to manage, implement, and achieve critical R&D objectives and strategies. Immediate tasks include managing the intake, storage and rapid testing of granular fertilizer samples produced for both commercial and research use, independently planning and executing lab experiments and quality control testing while following standard operating procedures (SOPs) ensuring consistency in protocol execution. The Research Associate will serve as a liaison to internal colleagues regarding laboratory studies/projects and while work alongside other members of the R&D team, playing an instrumental role in the company by executing experiments that have material impact on our company’s success.

Requirements

Demonstrated success prioritizing and managing work requests from multiple sources and in meeting deadlines; superior time management skills and keen attention to detail are essential
Ability to exercise ethical, prudent judgment and problem-solving in the absence of direct supervision
Ability to communicate, collaborate, and build strong working relationships with others
Ability to work independently, learn new skills quickly, and take initiative
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment and assume personal ownership of R&D activities and outcomes
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including mastery of correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax and tone
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
Strong knowledge of organic and inorganic chemistry
Strong math skills including the use of statistic, formulas, charts, and tables
Critical thinking and problem solving
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology or related physical science field from an accredited university or college, however, candidates with two years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
Has a university-level understanding of scientific methods, chemistry, and laboratory techniques
“Day-1 Expert-level” proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word)
One or more years of laboratory research experience outside an academic setting
Experience with basic analytical chemistry (qualitative and quantitative analysis) as well as spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, and microscopy
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between multiple locations as needed
Background checks (criminal/education/employment/reference/credit/DMV) will be performed; results must be satisfactory to the company.
If hired, must adhere to all company policies and procedures and other prescribed best practices/industry standards

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience with lab design and setup
Basic understanding of agronomy, soil science and greenhouse lab practices
Experience with computer programming
Material Science experience

Responsibilities

Prepare samples of granular products for quality control experiments including pH analysis, moisture, bulk and tap density, crush strength, filtering, size distribution by sieving, measuring, etc.
Communicate with internal teams and outside partners across production, warehousing, and logistics to ensure samples are properly labeled, packaged, and shipped for quality control testing and to align research objectives with business needs
Prepare standards and chemical reagents (i.e. acids, bases, alcohols, etc.) for use in completing experiments, troubleshooting, testing, and data acquisition
Support experimental design, research planning, and data analysis
Collaborate with other R&D team members to develop and carry out tests, experiments and studies to include:
Phosphorus adsorption and desorption studies
Raw material characterization
Soil and water testing
Nutrient leaching experiments
Soil nutrient incubation and nutrient release studies
Develop a company-specific scientific knowledge inventory of various materials and their impacts on phosphorus-soil behavior
Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis on raw materials using laboratory experimentation
Troubleshoot instrumentation and ensure proper repair as needed
Maintain a high level of scientific integrity and laboratory safety
Record and manage experimental procedures and data in proper database and notebook structures
Organize, maintain, and manage small-scale laboratory equipment, supplies, and chemical inventory
Prepare, setup, operate, tear down, and clean all equipment, materials, and supplies for lab experiments
Translate and communicate research findings and complex statistical information to stakeholders
Prepare verbal and written technical reports and presentations to explain experimental findings