Senior Scientist - Ion Exchange

Kunin; Chattanooga, Northern (TN, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits package

Job summary

Kunin Technologies in Chattanooga, TN, seeks an accomplished Ion‑exchange scientist to lead resin synthesis, functionalization, and column-scale tests. You will drive innovations from lab to pilot, defining selective elution strategies for multi-species separations while coordinating with partners to scale manufacturing.

Requires a PhD with 5+ years in resin chemistry and hydrometallurgical separations; relocation to Chattanooga, TN is required.

Qualifications

• PhD-level expertise in polymerization, functionalization, and conditioning with crosslinking control.
• At least 5 years in resin chemistry, column science, and hydrometallurgical separations.
• Proficient in analytical and physical testing methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead ion-exchange resin synthesis and functionalization aligned with kinetics and selectivity goals.
• Model resin backbone stability and dimensional changes.
• Develop resin form factor qualification and stress testing protocols.
• Manage column testing for mass transfer, breakthrough, regeneration, and leakage control.
• Develop selective elution strategies for multi-species partitioning in pilot systems.
• Coordinate joint development programs with ligand partners.
• Lead manufacturing scale-up of novel ion-exchange media.

Skills

Ion-exchange chemistry

Column science

Hydrometallurgical separations

Analytical testing

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Polymer Engineering

Tools

MetSim

HSC Chemistry

OLI Studio

PHREEQC

Job description

Who We Are

Kunin Technologies is revolutionizing the critical mineral supply chain by implementing advanced separation technologies to capture value from overlooked resources.

Who We Are

Kunin Technologies is revolutionizing the critical mineral supply chain by implementing advanced separation technologies to capture value from overlooked resources.

Metals are everywhere—in solar panels, smartphones, electric vehicles—but as ore grades plummet globally, traditional extraction methods are failing.

China dominates critical minerals markets by developing superior separation technologies that extract value from materials American mines discard as waste.

Utilizing Kunin Technologies’ breakthrough mass manufacturable nano‑separation systems, significantly more value can be produced from each resource, reducing waste, and unlocking domestic critical mineral production.

Mission for Year 1

Kunin is commercializing a novel ion‑exchange media form factor and system design that decouples kinetics from pressure‑drop, unlocking orders of magnitude improvements in throughput compared to resin‑in‑columns systems.

You will lead ion‑exchange technology development, unlocking a new pandora’s box of processing innovations from critical minerals to beyond.

By the end of 2026, we expect:

• To make IX as easy as RO.
• Define novel selective elution sequencing and train configurations for multi‑species partitioning.
• Release dynamic customer unit operation cost estimation tooling from internally developed CFD Multiphysics digital twins.

What You’ll Lead

• Ion‑exchange resin synthesis, functionalization, and conditioning tied to kinetic and selectivity objectives.
• Modelling of resin backbone composition‑dependent dimensional stability.
• Lead novel resin form factor qualification and stress testing protocols.
• Column testing programs optimizing mass transfer, breakthrough, regeneration, and leakage control.
• Develop novel selective elution strategies from first principles and translating to multi‑species partitioning in multi‑column series or parallel pilot systems.
• Lead joint development programs with novel ligand development partners.
• Execute the manufacturing scale‑up of novel ion‑exchange resin media.

Who You Are

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Polymer Engineering.
• Ion‑exchange scientist with at least 5 years in resin chemistry, column science, and hydrometallurgical separations.
• Practitioner of polymerization, functionalization, and conditioning with measured control of crosslinking, porosity, swelling, and mechanical strength.
• Experimentalist fluent in analytical and physical testing — SEM, BET, FTIR, ICP‑OES/MS, TGA/DSC.
• Modeler skilled in equilibrium, speciation, and kinetic frameworks using MetSim, HSC Chemistry, OLI Studio, PHREEQC.

Compensation

This role will pay $90,000 - $160,000, benefits, and equity.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to relocate to Chattanooga, TN.

Chattanooga is more beautiful than expected, and Tennessee has no income tax.

• Flexibility for extended hours during critical project phases.

Compensation Range: $90K - $160K