Chemical Synthesis Engineer/Scientist Co-op

Company Overview

Lydian is developing the lowest cost sustainable fuels from waste CO2, water, and renewable electricity to decarbonize the aviation industry. Our breakthrough technology replaces oil and gas refining with fully electrified, modular, and flexible reactor systems that produce fuel with 95% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel.

Since our founding in 2021, Lydian has achieved key milestones in record time, including the production of our first liquid fuel from our pilot system, capable of producing 10,000 gallons of fuel per year for a fraction of the capital and time of alternative approaches. We are building a motivated, diverse, and collaborative team that is passionate about addressing the growing climate crisis and is committed to excellence in their work. In particular, we look for tenacious people who are energized by solving the hardest, highest impact problems that come their way.

Position Overview

Lydian is looking for a 6-month Chemical Synthesis Engineer/Scientist Co-op for Spring 2026 to design, synthesize, and test novel catalyst materials for our high-temperature reactor systems, including wet-chemical synthesis of new formulations, bench-scale reactor testing under realistic operating conditions, and characterization of material performance and degradation. In this role, you will prepare and test catalyst formulations designed to operate under demanding high-temperature reactor conditions, and help carry the most promising candidates from bench-scale synthesis through to larger substrates. You will interface with engineers and scientists across various domains in order to inform your experimental design and research priorities, and your results will directly shape which materials advance toward our pilot and commercial systems.

This is an hourly position based in Boston, MA and has a minimum commitment of 6-months. The role is fully in-person and hands-on in the lab.

Responsibilities

• Synthesis of novel catalyst formulations to meet demanding reactor requirements (operation for 1000+ h at 1000+ °C), including preparation of supports, active phases, and precursor solutions

• Reactor testing to efficiently identify the most promising formulations for further development, including loading and operating bench-scale test reactors and tracking activity, selectivity, and stability over time

• Scale-up of promising formulations to coat large substrates (catalyst monoliths > 5 in long), adapting bench-scale recipes to larger batch sizes and coating processes

• Working effectively with partners, including automotive catalyst suppliers, to develop scalable manufacturing techniques and transfer Lydian formulations to partner processes

• Using advanced characterization techniques (e.g., surface area and porosity, XRD, electron microscopy, chemisorption, thermal analysis) to develop understanding of materials and degradation mechanisms, and working with external partners who can perform some techniques under our guidance

• Collaborating with the other projects to understand and incorporate requirements and cooperatively solve problems, particularly around reactor design, coatings, and system integration

• Own, develop, and execute synthesis plans of candidate catalyst materials with guidance from Lydian engineers, including defining hypotheses, selecting variables, and prioritizing experiments

• Perform analysis of experimental data, prepare reports, and maintain database of catalyst formulations and experimental performance so that results are traceable and can inform future development

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. candidate in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.

• Hands-on experience with chemical synthesis and general wet lab techniques (e.g., solution preparation, impregnation or precipitation methods, drying and calcination, handling of powders and solvents).

• Understanding of reaction kinetics, heat transfer, and mass transport at an undergraduate level; familiarity with heterogeneous catalysis concepts is a plus.

• Ability to plan, document, and execute experiments; collect and analyze data; and apply statistical analysis

• Strong focus on safe lab practices with foresight to identify and mitigate potential hazards, including safe handling of chemicals, high-temperature furnaces, and compressed gases.

• Curiosity, eagerness to learn, and a proactive mindset; comfortable asking questions and taking initiative in an environment where procedures are still being developed.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for sharing results with a cross-functional team.

• Desire to work in a fast-paced environment and solve interesting technical problems.

Company culture and benefits

• Paid lab/engineering-focused internship with a collaborative in-person technical team

• Challenging, meaningful work that can directly impact company success

• Opportunities for networking/exposure within the climate tech community

• Mentorship from a great team of engineers and scientists