Senior Polymer Scientist Jobs

Blu3 is a Seaweed Biotech startup company based in San Jose, CA, focused on creating breakthrough products across markets for biomaterials and GHG reduction. We are building a team of individuals who share our passion for solving the climate crisis through close collaboration and a sense of urgency.

We are looking for an outstandingand innovative Senior Polymer Scientistwith a strong interest in Biopolymers and a solid background in Polymer Science/Chemistry/Biochemistry/Materials Science.

Becoming a member of this team is an excellent opportunity to join us in the beginning stages of our company and help build this function from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a lead for testing biopolymers for durability and biodegradability in collaboration with external service providers.
• Actively partner with a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including other biologists, engineers, and designers, across scientific and design pursuits.
• Identify candidate biopolymer materials for various applications as per the specifications of Blu3’s clients.
• Optimize biopolymer extractions from multiple seaweed species and other renewable biological sources, with a strong focus on innovative green technologies.
• As a technology startup, support our product prototype development initiative by working with peers, external service providers, and collaborators to deliver the performance required of our products.

Essential Qualifications:

• Experience in biopolymer extractions from seaweed/agricultural products, fractionation, and chemical compositional analysis.
• Ability to interpret rheological properties, and characterizations of biopolymers as applies to specific product prototype development.
• Self-motivated, ability to see the big picture, and customer centric.
• Familiarity with application of nanoparticles in conjunction with biopolymers in a variety of product prototype development.
• Good communication and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail, good record-keeping, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Advanced knowledge in the Design of Experiments (DoE-Full factorial/Fractional factorial design and Taguchi design), and related statistical analysis tools.
• Ph.D in Polymer Science/Biochemistry/Chemistry or Materials Science with 2-3 years of hands-on laboratory research experience in industry or academia.
• Solid knowledge in the structure-property relationships of a broad range of biopolymers and biocomposites.
• Analytical experience with SEC, HP-SEC, HPLC, GC, MS, NMR, FTIR, RI, MALS, DSC and TGA.