Job Description

ATOCO, Inc. is a startup company founded by the distinguished scientist and Nobel Laureate Prof. Omar Yaghi, the inventor of MOF and COF chemistry. ATOCO is currently working on technologies in the fields of atmospheric water harvesting and CO2 capture. Learn more about Atoco.

This position will join the initial small startup R&D team that will be working on technology commercialization and technology transfer from the University of California, Berkeley. This position will focus on the synthesis and analysis of various MOF, COF and potentially other supramolecular materials to study their overall performance in adsorbing/desorbing CO2 and water.

• Synthesize various MOF & COF materials at a variety of production scales and perform comprehensive characterization of the physical and chemical properties.
• Work with and report to the head of R&D to achieve the department goals of developing commercial-grade MOF/COF-based technologies
• Investigate and determine critical parameters to be addressed for commercialization.
• Operate instruments for the synthesis and characterization of materials. Analytical techniques may include gas isotherm measurements, physisorption surface area and pore size analysis, particle size analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, electron microscopy, moisture content analysis, solid state NMR, etc.
• Develop synthetic process of organic ligands for commercial-scale
• Mentor chemists and laboratory technicians to aid in research and development efforts
• Maintain an electronic notebook detailing all data measured, observations, and steps performed
• Present and report research results in projects, program reviews and technical committees
• Contribute to the intellectual property of the company by writing and participating in invention disclosures and/or peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
• Perform periodic reporting to management and participate in periodic joint brainstorming and technical meetings.
• Participate in collaborative joint research activities with research teams at partner universities.

• PhD in organic chemistry from an accredited institution, along with a demonstrated record of achievement in research.
• Industry experience in organic synthetic chemistry
• Strong research background, including peer-reviewed publications.
• Minimum of 3 years of research experience post the PhD degree.
• Industry experience of 5-10 years.
• Proven track record of research activities in the field of MOF and/or COF materials.
• Familiar with health and safety procedures in chemistry labs.
• Thrive in a culture that values diversity, collaboration, precision, and learning.
• Strong commitment to operational excellence in the lab, office, and chemical plant environment.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Ability to handle multiple complex projects simultaneously with excellent problem-solving skills.
• Follow procedures with keen attention to details and approach problems with critical thinking.
• A track record of successful scale-up prototypes or experimentation.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• By Email: Send your cover letter and resume to HR@atoco.com and include the Job-ID in the subject.

• On LinkedIn: Visit our LinkedIn page to follow us and use the “easy apply” function and submit a cover letter and your resume in one file