Lead Scientist

Company:  Connecticut Innovations
Location: New Haven
Closing Date: 26/10/2024
Hours: Full Time
Type: Permanent
Job Requirements / Description

Are you ready to join Connecticut Innovation’s vibrant community of innovators? Connecticut Innovations (“CI”) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm, and we are passionate about serving our portfolio of 220+ companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology, and climate tech.


Come join one of our quickly growing portfolio companies, Home | CREW Carbon !


Crew Carbon Overview


We are a venture-backed, early-stage company developed at Yale University, commercializing research conducted by Prof. Noah Planavsky and Dr. Joachim Katchinoff to utilize key biogeochemical reactions to make positive climate impact while making wastewater treatment more effective. We use our patented technology to enhance the natural power of minerals to help treat wastewater and store carbon dioxide permanently using a low-cost solution combined with best-in-class monitoring and modeling for the robust quantification of CO2 removed. Our approach can provide millions of dollars in chemical cost savings, new revenue streams, and significant climate impact to the wastewater sector. CREW is currently deployed in the US and Germany, with new projects launching across the world.


We are funded by Counteract, ReGen, Ponderosa, Connecticut Innovations and others. We've secured large contracts with the premier buyers of carbon credits through the Frontier Climate Fund (Stripe, Shopify, Autodesk, McKinsey, among others) and have been selected by the Department of Energy as one of the few potential suppliers of high-quality carbon credits to the federal government.


About the Role


The primary role of the Science Team Lead at CREW Carbon is to manage the product team and drive the success of CREW's carbon removal technology through both scientific leadership and project management. This role requires hands-on work in the lab and field, overseeing data analysis, modeling, and method development. The Science Team Lead will work closely with the Head of Science and CEO to push forward CREW’s mission by identifying and solving key scientific challenges related to our enhanced weathering and MRV solutions. The position is full-time and in-person, located in New Haven, involving time in the office, laboratory, or at field sites.


Initial 6 Months


  • Develop and execute a methods development roadmap, optimizing the use of analytical instruments for accurate data collection.
  • Design and lead laboratory and field-scale experimental campaigns to quantify CO2 removal rates, greenhouse gas attenuation, and wastewater treatment process impacts like nitrification efficiency.
  • Establish validated protocols and SOPs for lab and field operations.
  • Collaborate with the Head of Operations to plan and implement a robust sample inventory and data tracking system for scalable deployment analysis.


Ongoing Responsibilities


  • Lead and mentor the R&D team to ensure scientific rigor and progress in technology development.
  • Foster a collaborative environment to promote team development, ensuring ongoing learning and the application of new skills in modeling, data analysis, and experimental work.
  • Provide scientific direction and feedback, designing experiments and ensuring data-driven decision-making in the technology development process.
  • Collaborate with operations to ensure effective data reporting and communication.


Required Qualifications


  • PhD in geochemistry, biogeochemistry, environmental sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
  • Proven experience managing and leading a scientific team, ideally within a field and lab research environment.
  • Strong proficiency in analytical chemistry techniques (e.g., ICP-MS,) and experience with statistical programming, geochemical modeling (e.g., Python, R, PHREEQC).
  • Extensive experience in conducting field and lab research, including designing and executing experiments, collecting samples, and performing data analysis.
  • Ability to lift up to 15 lbs and adapt to dynamic, fast-paced startup environments.
  • Passion for addressing climate change through innovative technology solutions.


Bonus Qualifications


  • Postdoctoral experience in a relevant scientific field with a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications.
  • Experience in startups, especially in early-stage technology development and scaling.


Compensation


$90,000-120,000 with equity option, plus competitive company benefits such as relocation bonus, health insurance, paid time off, and others.


Location


CREW has offices and labs in New Haven, CT and offices in Brooklyn, NY. This position is required to be in person in New Haven, CT.


Why Work At Crew Carbon?


  • According to recent research, the global water and wastewater treatment market size was valued at $323+ billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $617+ billion by 2032; North America dominated the water and wastewater treatment market with a market share of 38.67% in 2023.
  • According to McKinsey & Company, the carbon removal (CDR) market could become a trillion-dollar industry, potentially reaching up to $1.2 trillion by 2050, highlighting the significant economic opportunities within this emerging sector.
  • We utilize the extensive infrastructure present in wastewater treatment systems to provide robust, empirical, and durable carbon dioxide removal through enhanced weathering, while delivering process benefits to our partners; our process was patented while at Yale University, with patents granted by the US Patent Office and global filings already in place.
  • We have assembled a team of experts in climate and wastewater, and we are supported by expert partners (Pacific Northwest National Labs, Department of Energy, Carbon to Sea Initiative, Yale University)
  • We have completed a successful pilot and have built many thousands of tons of CDR capacity, with several new deployments coming online in Q32024


Highlights



Crew Carbon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We have strict wage minimums, generous benefits, and personal leave policies. Our goal is to provide safe, rewarding, and empowering work environments for all who interact with our company.

Apply Now
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