Research & Development - Part-time

PHNX Materials; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 28,413 - 40,467; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship from experienced engineers

Exposure to industrial R&D challenges

Mission-driven startup environment

Job summary

PHNX Materials, located in San Leandro, California, seeks a part-time R&D Intern to support innovative technologies transforming industrial ash into valuable products. This internship involves conducting experiments, maintaining lab operations, and assisting in data tracking, making it an excellent opportunity for current students in chemical engineering or related fields. The role requires prior laboratory experience and attention to detail, with a compensation of $25 per hour. Join us to help address major environmental challenges and gain hands-on experience in a startup environment.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a relevant program.
• Prior laboratory experience required (academic, research, or industry).
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow procedures precisely.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory experiments following protocols and SOPs.
• Maintain detailed experimental logs and track results.
• Assist with equipment setup and cleaning.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Laboratory safety protocols

Chemical handling

Organizational skills

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in chemical engineering, materials science, or chemistry

Job description

About PHNX Materials:

PHNX Materials refines coal ash waste into critical products. Our proprietary technology extracts titanium, alumina and rare-earth elements from ash while selling the residual feed as a cement substitute (SCM). Our cost-effective, scalable technology delivers a triple win: securing domestic critical mineral supply chains, helping power producers manage coal ash liabilities, and providing concrete companies a cheaper, greener alternative to cement. Founded by Stanford, McKinsey, and Tesla alumni, PHNX is on a mission to mine this abundant domestic natural resource.

Role summary:

Be part of something extraordinary. As an R&D Intern at PHNX Materials, you will support the development and refinement of breakthrough technologies that transform industrial ash into clean, valuable products. You will work closely with engineers and scientists to conduct experiments, generate high-quality data, and help translate lab-scale insights into scalable processes.

This is a part-time in-person role (20 hours / week) ideal for a college, Master’s, or PhD student with prior laboratory experience who is highly detail oriented, safety conscious, and excited to work hands-on in an applied R&D environment.

Job:

• This is a hands-on, lab-focused internship where you will assist with experimental execution, data tracking, and day-to-day R&D operations. You will play a key role in ensuring experiments are run safely, consistently, and reproducibly while helping the team learn faster and make better technical decisions.

• Compensation: $25/ hour

Key Responsibilities:

You will play a key role shaping PHNX’s technology, building a customer pipeline, and defining future engineering.

Experimental Support

• Conduct laboratory experiments following established protocols and SOPs.

• Prepare, label, and handle reagents, samples, and test materials safely.

• Assist with bench-scale and pilot-scale experiments under supervision.

• Maintain detailed experimental logs, track results, and flag anomalies.

Data & Documentation

• Record experimental data accurately and consistently.

• Organize results, observations, and metadata to support analysis and scale-up decisions.

• Support preparation of internal reports, summaries, and presentations.

Lab Operations

• Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment.

• Assist with equipment setup, cleaning, calibration, and basic troubleshooting.

• Support inventory management of lab supplies and consumables.

Safety & Compliance

• Follow all lab safety protocols, chemical handling procedures, and PPE requirements.

• Participate in safety trainings and report incidents, near misses, or deviations.

• Help reinforce a strong safety culture within the lab.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a BS, MS, or PhD program in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, environmental engineering, or a related field.

• Prior laboratory experience required (academic, research, or industry).

• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow procedures precisely.

• Comfortable handling chemicals and working in a lab or pilot environment.

• Organized, reliable, and able to track multiple experiments simultaneously.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with slurry handling, solids processing, or materials characterization.

• Familiarity with SOPs, lab notebooks, or experimental design.

• Interest in industrial decarbonization, materials, or climate tech.

Working Conditions

• Work in a laboratory and pilot-scale R&D environment.

• Required use of PPE and adherence to safety procedures.

• Hands-on lab work.

What We Offer:

• Direct exposure to real-world industrial R&D and scale-up challenges.

• Mentorship from experienced engineers and scientists.

• A mission-driven startup environment with meaningful impact.

• Opportunity to contribute to technologies addressing major environmental challenge

Note: We are unable to sponsor non-U.S. citizens at this time. We welcome applicants on OPT.

PHNX Materials is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to attracting and growing a diverse team—all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.