What are the responsibilities and job description for the Membrane Applications Co-op position at ZwitterCo?
Overview of Role
ZwitterCo is seeking a Membrane Applications Co-op to join the Technology Development team during the fall co-op cycle (July – December 2025) to help tackle water scarcity with our patented self-assembling membranes.
ZwitterCo is announcing an immediate opening for a Membrane Applications Co-op seeking a high-impact, collaborative role in a rapidly expanding business. The candidate will play a key role in the development and performance testing of ZwitterCo’s breakthrough membranes. Candidates with interest and/or experience in permeation testing, materials characterization, analytical chemistry, and/or the analysis of structure-property-performance relationships are encouraged to apply.
About ZwitterCo
ZwitterCo has developed a breakthrough in materials science, a new class of zwitterionic membranes with unprecedented fouling resistance, making it practical to filter challenging water, wastewater, and process streams. Our products are recognized as the premier tools for reusing wastewater, bringing new and impaired water resources into circulation, and maximizing efficiency in food and ingredient separations.
ZwitterCo was named Global Water Intelligence’s 2023 Breakthrough Water Technology Company of the Year and Fast Company’s Top Innovators of 2024. The company has commercial operations in numerous food and beverage, agricultural, and industrial sectors around the world and continues to advance its technology platform to unlock broader water, wastewater, and process applications.
Responsibilities Include
The Membrane Applications Co-op will be responsible for helping ZwitterCo assess both fundamental performance and real-world properties of our next-generation zwitterionic membranes. Candidates will gain experience with both flat sheet testing under dead-end and crossflow conditions, as well as commercial spiral wound elements. Responsibilities may include:
- Conducting research into new and improved chemistry platforms for achieving membrane product performance goals
- Hand coating membranes from R&D polymer batches and characterizing material properties
- Developing new methods to characterize membranes depending on function and type
- Performance testing for new membranes
- Collaborating with ZwitterCo team members to develop predictions of membrane performance with varying feeds
- Analyzing data and making recommendations for next steps based on results from experiments
- Establishing SOPs for routine R&D procedures
Critical Success Factors
- Successful candidates will be methodical with excellent attention to detail
- Will readily approach test results through a critical lens
- Be well-versed in laboratory practices
- Have a keen interest in environmental and water technologies
Qualifications
Candidates pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or a similar field are also encouraged to apply. Additional qualifications include:
- Experience or high interest in the principles and process engineering that underpins membrane permeation testing
- Familiarity with analytical equipment and automated data collection
- Experience with several analytical chemistry techniques
- Basic statistical analysis (mean, standard deviations, confidence intervals)
- Proficient in tools relevant to these fields, such as MS Excel and laboratory notebook maintenance
- Flexibility to adapt to changes in lab operations, priorities, or schedules
Schedule, Travel, Location, and Compensation
This full-time position is on-site in Woburn, MA, and reports directly to the Director of Research and Development
