Associate Scientist, Surfactants

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Full Time Professional The Woodlands, TX, US

Salary Range: $71,000.00 To $95,000.00 Annually

Divisions of Locus Fermentation Solutions

Title:

Company:

Status:

Exempt

Reports To:

VP Technology

What you’ll be doing:

We are seeking an enthusiastic Associate Scientist to support research and product development activities in a fast‑paced laboratory environment. In this role, you will conduct laboratory testing, participate in experimental design under the guidance of senior scientists, and assist with method development and data analysis. You will ensure high standards of safety, documentation, and technical execution while contributing to meaningful scientific outcomes.

As an early‑career scientific contributor, you will gain experience with experimental design, advanced instrumentation, and cross‑functional collaboration. The Associate Scientist also supports internal knowledge generation by contributing to invention disclosures, publications, and presentations. This role provides a strong foundation for growth into Scientist and Senior Scientist positions.

Location: The Woodlands, TX.

Essential Job Functions Related to Surfactants:

• Prepare surfactant samples, solutions, and formulations according to established test methods and protocols.
• Conduct physical and chemical testing of surfactants, including but not limited to:
  • Surface tension measurements
  • Interfacial tension testing
  • Foam generation and stability analysis
  • Wetting and spreading evaluations
  • Emulsion stability testing
  • Viscosity and rheology measurements
  • pH, density, and conductivity analysis
• Maintain chemical and sample inventory.
• Perform or adapt application-specific performance testing according to established test methods and protocols to demonstrate performance advantages of biosurfactant technologies versus conventional surfactants.
• Assist with the development of laboratory programs that correlate field performance and production outcomes, including but not limited to analyzing treatment, production, flowback, and tracer data to validate technology effectiveness and identify optimization opportunities.
• Participate in the development of differentiated biosurfactant-based surfactant technologies across multiple industries including energy, mining, specialty ingredients, establish product performance specifications and quality requirements for commercialization.

Key Responsibilities:

Research & Product Development (70%)

• Perform highly complex, non‑routine, and specialized testing requiring expert‑level skill.
• Plan and execute experiments, DOE, and method improvements aligned to project goals.
• Operate and troubleshoot analytical instrumentation; ensure data quality and reproducibility.
• Translate findings into actionable recommendations for scale‑up or product decisions.
• Lead major equipment maintenance, optimization, and troubleshooting efforts.
• Adhere to established lab practices for new product development, stability, and commercialization.
• Identify opportunities to improve testing workflows and reliability.
• Create SOPs and contribute feedback for improvements when needed.
• Contribute to invention disclosures, publications, and presentations as appropriate.

Data Management and Communication (20%)

• Maintain accurate lab records- including lab notebooks, electronic files, and equipment logs- according to laboratory and organizational standards.
• Lead the upkeep of calibration logs, maintenance records, and equipment usage documentation.
• Record test data, observations, and results clearly and promptly within project systems.
• Communicate advanced data insights, trends, and recommendations to scientists and leadership.
• Re…