A Research Scientist is responsible for designing, undertaking and analyzing information from controlled laboratory-based investigations, experiments and trials.
Founding Scientist, Materials Research (Employee #1) Stealth Startup - 4.2 Woodbury, NJ Job Details Part-time | Full-time 13 hours ago Benefits Flexible schedule Qualifications Record keeping English Research Polymer chemistry Bachelor's degree Attention to detail Industrial research Materials science Scanning electron microscope Materials Science Interpersonal communication Full Job Description About the Company We're an early-stage advanced materials company developing a novel, mechanically driven fiber production process. Our platform produces highly tunable fiber mats with precise control over alignment, diameter, thickness, and geometry, without the thermal stress or high-voltage electrical requirements that limit conventional fiber processing methods. This opens up polymers that are otherwise difficult or impossible to process, including biobased and thermally sensitive materials, for use in filtration, biomedical, and industrial applications. We're pre-launch, small, and building the founding team now. Job Summary We're hiring our first dedicated research scientist, someone who wants to help build the lab and the process from the ground up, not just execute inside one that already exists.
This is a founding-team role:
you'll have direct input into how our experimental program is built, and you'll be the person our Head of R D relies on to turn process decisions into real, repeatable lab work. You'll design and run your own experiments, troubleshoot equipment and process issues independently, and make sound technical calls without close supervision. Much of your time will be spent running the lab solo, so this role suits someone who's genuinely comfortable working unsupervised for extended stretches and doesn't need a team around them to stay productive and safe. As the company scales, this role has a clear path to owning the pilot-scale transition and growing into a senior technical leadership position. This is a strong fit for someone who wants real ownership and a seat at the table early, not a standard lab tech job with a bigger title. Key Responsibilities Design, execute, and iterate on experiments testing polymer formulations, processing parameters, and fiber outcomes Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot lab-scale processing equipment independently Characterize fiber and material properties (morphology, mechanical, thermal, as applicable) and translate results into clear, decision-ready conclusions Maintain rigorous experimental records and contribute to SOP development and data organization Identify process or formulation problems proactively and propose solutions rather than waiting for direction Manage lab supplies, chemical inventory, and safety compliance Communicate findings regularly to the Head of R D and founding team Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or related field 2-4+ years of hands-on experience in a research lab or industrial R D setting, ideally in polymers, fibers, or materials processing Demonstrated ability to work independently and drive experimental work with minimal day-to-day supervision Comfortable working alone in a lab setting for extended periods, without a team physically present day-to-day Strong fundamentals in polymer chemistry and/or materials characterization Comfortable in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment where priorities shift Detail-oriented, with strong experimental recordkeeping habits Effective communicator, able to flag problems and propose solutions clearly The Ideal Candidate May Also Have Prior experience in an early-stage startup or small R D team Hands-on experience with fiber processing (electrospinning, melt spinning, or related methods) Experience with characterization techniques such as SEM, DSC, TGA, or FTIR Experience building, modifying, or troubleshooting lab-scale equipment Interest in advanced materials and sustainability-oriented technology Schedule We're flexible on schedule. This can be part-time or full-time, and we're open to non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends. This role can also work well as something done alongside a full-time job elsewhere, evenings and weekends only, if that's a better fit for you right now. What matters most is reliable, self-directed lab time, not a fixed 9-to-5.
Benefits:
Flexible schedule Application Question(s): How far of a drive are you from Woodbury, NJ? What is your degree in?
Education:
Bachelor's (Required)
Experience:
Research:
2 years (Required) startup: 1 year (Preferred) fiber processing: 1 year (Preferred)
