What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Scientist position at SkyNano?
Job Description : Senior Scientist
Location : Knoxville, TN (Onsite)
Company : SkyNano
About SkyNano :
SkyNano is a pioneering materials science startup based in Knoxville, TN, focused on developing a U.S.-based supply of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other value carbon structures using our patented, sustainable electrochemical process. By leveraging CO₂ as a primary feedstock, we are transforming greenhouse gas emissions into high-value materials, driving innovation in energy storage, building materials, composites, coatings, and other applications of carbon-based advanced materials. Our mission is to create a scalable and sustainable CNT production process to meet the growing global demand for lightweight, durable, and high-performance materials while making a significant positive impact on the environment.
As we continue to expand, we are seeking a visionary Senior Scientist to lead critical research and development initiatives that will enable us to scale our technology and expand our impact.
Position Summary :
The Senior Scientist will be a key leader in the R&D team, driving innovation and optimization of SkyNano’s novel CNT production technology. This role will help solve underlying scientific challenges that support SkyNano’s process scale-up, ranging from advancements in corrosion phenomena understanding, electrochemical behavior elucidation, and applications development of CNT-enabled materials and devices. Ultimately this will contribute to the success of SkyNano, ensuring material performance aligns with market needs, and contributing to the company’s mission of sustainability-driven advanced materials innovation. The ideal candidate will possess excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical and self-management skills with the ability to design and execute complex experiments and data analysis.
Key Responsibilities :
- R&D Leadership : Design and execute high-level experimental plans in collaboration with technical R&D staff to optimize the electrochemical synthesis of CNTs and other carbon structures, improving tunability, efficiency, yield, and quality. This includes R&D efforts aimed at optimizing electrochemical synthesis variables, materials of construction for electrolyte-wetted and thermal oxidative environments, and novel applications development for CNT-enabled materials and devices (such as composites, coatings, and batteries). Coach team members and contribute insights to performance evaluations of both R&D and Engineering team members based on their contributions to R&D efforts.
- Process Scale-Up : Collaborate with engineers to continue the transition of lab-scale processes to commercial-scale production. Address scientific challenges associated with scaling.
- Innovation Alignment : Ensure that R&D aligns with market needs, focusing on energy storage, composites, coatings and emerging applications. Must be comfortable with start-up culture needs of deep scientific investigation to solve root challenges most influential of overall mission (“only need to know as much as we need to know”).
- Team Development : Mentor and guide junior scientists and foster a collaborative, innovative, high-performance research culture. This is an individual contributor position without direct personnel management requirements, but it is expected that the ideal candidate is passionate about mentorship and is eager to contribute to the development of junior R&D staff.
- Collaboration : Work with SkyNano’s leadership, R&D and engineering teams, external stakeholders, including industry partners, academic collaborators, and government agencies, to advance the technology and address technical challenges. Identify research funding opportunities and contribute to funding applications.
Qualifications :
What We Offer :
How to Apply :
Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, and a brief summary of relevant research or contributions to careers@skynanotechnologies.com . Please include “Senior Scientist” in the subject line.
Join SkyNano in revolutionizing materials science and advancing sustainability through cutting-edge innovation!