Alkali Earth
Role: Junior Scientist
Desired Start: August 2024
About Alkali Earth
Alkali Earth was launched in 2022 to deliver permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR) through enhanced weathering and mineralization in gravel roads, parking lots, and industrial pads. In our projects, CDR is achieved through the formation of new carbonate minerals that accumulate over time in our gravels, meaning our approach to measurement can be direct, simple, and relatively cheap.
Since we launched Alkali Earth in 2022, we’ve signed pre-purchase contracts, signed an exclusive supply partnership with a leading steel slag supplier, and deployed our first projects. After our first round of senior hires, we are continuing to grow our team as we aim to rapidly scale our impact.
Our focus is on optimizing the use of highly reactive alkaline minerals co-produced during steel production (steel slags) while leveraging existing aggregates markets. Steel slag is a uniquely complex material with dozens of mineral phases, high capacity for carbon removal (high Ca and Mg), and relatively rapid reaction rates. We are looking for a Junior Scientist to help us unlock the complexity of steel slag weathering and carbonation and to help our science team implement experimental plans and acquire and analyze critical data.
We encourage applications from individuals who are excited about joining a new and growing team and tackling important logistical and scientific challenges, even if you do not feel that you meet every desired qualification. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
What you might do
● Help build out our laboratory in the Northfield area
● Maintain our lab space, instrumentation, and equipment
● Help design and lead the implementation of laboratory and field experimentation plans
● Regularly travel to our sentinel site in Rochester, MN to conduct sampling campaigns
● Acquire, aggregate and analyze data for presentation to the senior team and for inclusion in reports to our partners
● Conduct literature reviews to ensure the team stays up to date on relevant research
● Contribute to publications
Qualifications
● You’re curious, self-driven, and can’t stop thinking about a problem until you’ve solved it
● You’ve developed and proven the ability to adapt and learn new information quickly
● Ability to work independently and identify new questions and experimental procedures/ideas
● You have a BA, BS, or MS in Geosciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science or a related discipline
● Experience conducting laboratory experiments and/or field campaigns
● Valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle
● Ability to lift 25 pounds
Location & Compensation
● Northfield Area, Minnesota, with weekly travel to Rochester, MN
● $60k+, commensurate with experience, along with reimbursement for all travel expenses
● Health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off and other perks
How to apply
● Send us a resume/CV and a short cover letter at jobs@alkali.earth.
● Send questions to info@alkali.earth
