SCIENTIST - Scientist/Chemist - Pilot Plants at Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

Carbon Capture and Utilization Process Development Section works to support first of its kind carbon capture and carbon utilization processes. Lab to pilot plant process development services are performed to take new and novel technologies to commercialization.

Objectives of this Role:

• Performs standard engineering or scientific investigations assigned by more experienced researchers or management, normally as part of a project team, requiring an application of standard theories, techniques, procedures, and concepts in carrying out a sequence of related tasks.
• Contributes ideas for improving project work processes.
• Supervise and performs routine analyses to check applicability, accuracy, and reasonableness of data.
• Assist senior personnel in testing environments, on-site or remote labs, or other service or operating facilities.
• Use the knowledge of scientific principles, analytical methodology, laboratory tasks, chemical materials, and tools associated with chemical laboratories.
• Communicate with professional staff and providing high-importance support to scientific and engineering and/or more senior technical project staff.
• Must be able to work well in team environment. Support business development opportunities.
• Grow into a position where they will be able to promote new work and sell add-on projects to clients.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Set up and perform tests according to laboratory procedures and specifications; modify analytical procedures and write work instructions, maintain a clean and organized work area; use and troubleshoot equipment as needed to carry out project work.
• Clean and maintain test equipment as required; and prepare test samples; enter data into databases and use PC applications as required to carry out job assignments and other work as assigned.
• Prepares written reports of work for presentation to clients.
• Assists in the preparation, presentation, and follow-up of research proposals.
• Communicating with professional staff and providing high-importance support to scientific and engineering and/or more senior technical project staff is required. Must be able to work well in team environment.
• Communicate with vendors, clients, and operators to set up equipment and construct systems for new processes.
• Promote and secure new work as trained through mentorship and internal business development training.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors degree in Chemistry.
• Shift work required.
• 1-3 years: Experience working with chromatography (TCD/FID/MS), wet chemistry techniques (distillations, filtrations), batch/CSTR reactors, and other analytical techniques in a laboratory setting. High attentional to detail in calculations, experimental design, testing, and reporting.
• 1-3 years: Must be able to communicate clearly and interface with clients or potential clients as needed in the course of the project or proposal process. Must be able to conduct tasks in parallel. Experience with actual hands-on buildup of processes and test systems is preferred.
• 1-3 years: Experience in any of the following areas: biofuels, hydrotreating, carbon capture, carbon utilization, plastics recycling, pyrolysis, coking, distillation, electrolysis, clean hydrogen, biomass conversion.
• 1-3 years: Experience with work involving hydrocarbons, distillation, wet chemistry, titrations, petroleum analytical equipment is a plus.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.