Membrane Product Validation Co-op

Overview of Role

Zwitter Co is seeking a Membrane Product Validation Co-op to join the Technology Development team during the fall co-op cycle (July - Dec 2026) to help tackle water scarcity with our patented self-assembling membranes.

Zwitter Co is announcing an immediate opening for a Membrane Product Validation Co-op seeking a high-impact, collaborative role in a rapidly expanding business. The candidate will play a key role in the development and performance testing of Zwitter Co's breakthrough membranes. Candidates with interest and/or experience in permeation testing, materials characterization, analytical chemistry, and/or the analysis of structure-property-performance relationships are particularly encouraged to apply.

About Zwitter Co

Zwitter Co has developed a breakthrough in materials science - a new class of zwitterionic membranes with unprecedented fouling resistance. Our membrane solutions perform beyond the limits of conventional filtration, making it practical to treat complex wastewater, purify water for reuse, and maximize efficiency in food processing applications.

Zwitter Co serves customers in more than 20 countries across food and beverage, agricultural, and industrial sectors. We are rapidly investing in our technology, equipment, and global services platform to help our industrial customers achieve their most ambitious sustainability and growth targets.

We are grateful to have been named as Global Water Intelligence's 2023 Breakthrough Water Technology Company of the year and Fast Company's Top Innovators of 2024.

Responsibilities Include

The Membrane Product Validation Co-op will be responsible for helping Zwitter Co assess both fundamental performance, characterization throughout manufacturing development, and real-world properties of our next generation zwitterionic membranes. Candidates will gain experience with materials characterization, flat sheet testing under dead-end and crossflow conditions, as well as commercial spiral wound elements. Responsibilities may include:

* Improving existing and developing new methods to characterize membranes depending on function and type

* Conducting research into new and improved chemistry platforms for achieving membrane product performance goals

* Hand coating membranes from R&D polymer batches and characterizing material properties

* Performance testing for new membranes

* Collaborating with Zwitter Co team members to develop predictions of membrane performance with varying wastewater and specialty feeds

* Analyzing data and making recommendations for next steps based on results from experiments

* Establishing SOPs for routine R&D procedures

Critical Success Factors

* Successful candidates will be methodical with excellent attention to detail

* Will readily approach test results through a critical lens

* Be well-versed in laboratory practices

* Have a keen interest in environmental and water technologies

Qualifications

Candidates pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or a similar field are also encouraged to apply. Additional qualifications include:

* Experience or high interest in the principles and process engineering that underpins membrane permeation testing

* Familiarity with analytical equipment and automated data collection

* Experience with several analytical chemistry techniques

* Basic statistical analysis (mean, standard deviations, confidence intervals)

* Proficient in tools relevant to these fields, such as MS Excel and laboratory notebook maintenance

* Flexibility to adapt to changes in lab operations, priorities, or schedules

Schedule, Travel, Location, and Compensation

This full-time position is on-site in Woburn, MA, and reports directly to the Director of Research and Development