Current Opportunity

Scientist, Polymer Synthesis

Location: Cambridge, MA (The Engine, MIT.nano, and Harvard’s Center for Nanoscale Systems) 

Job Type: Full-time

The Opportunity

We're hiring a Scientist specializing in Polymer Synthesis to join the product development team alongside our CTO, Phil Hustad (PhD Cornell, 24 years at Dow and 3M, 150+ patents). This is a hands-on lab role where you'll own the architectural design, synthesis, and molecular characterization of VioNano’s core polymer platforms. You will have real ownership over experimental direction and synthetic strategies, translating novel chemical concepts into scalable, qualified materials that define our commercial path. If you want to do high-impact work in an environment where your synthetic expertise is directly visible, this is that job.

What you’ll do

  • Advanced Synthesis: Design and execute complex polymer syntheses using advanced techniques, including anionic and controlled free radical polymerizations, to achieve precise architectures, ultra-narrow molecular weight distributions, and targeted end-group chemistry.

  • Characterization: Run and interpret rigorous polymer characterization experiments (including GPC/SEC, NMR, MALDI-TOF, and thermal analysis) to validate polymer structure and purity.

  • Scale-Up & Collaboration: Drive the transition of successful synthetic routes from bench-scale exploration to larger R&D quantities, collaborating closely with external contract research organizations (CROs) and internal formulation teams.

  • Strategic Input: Partner directly with the CTO to define experimental roadmaps, build IP documentation, and establish repeatable laboratory workflows.

What We're Looking For

Required:

  • Education: PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field, or equivalent demonstrated capability through industry experience (we'll consider exceptional candidates without a PhD who have a strong track record).

  • Synthetic Mastery: Deep, hands-on academic expertise in advanced living or controlled polymerization techniques, specifically anionic polymerization and/or controlled free radical methods (RAFT, ATRP, etc.).

  • Analytical Rigor: Proven track record of utilizing advanced characterization tools (GPC, NMR, etc.) to elucidate complex polymer structures.

  • Resourcefulness: Comfortable working at lab scale in an agile, early-stage environment where you can creatively design experiments with limited equipment to yield meaningful results.

  • Communication: Strong scientific communication skills, with the ability to write clear experimental reports and present findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Strongly Preferred:

  • Polymer Physics: A strong foundational understanding of polymer physics (e.g., chain thermodynamics, phase separation, thin-film behavior, or surface dynamics) to help guide material design.

  • Semiconductor Industry Context: Familiarity with electronic materials, semiconductor lithography, or surface modification chemistry.

  • Mindset: Prior startup experience or a proactive, self-directed working style where you thrive on solving unmapped technical problems.

What kind of person thrives here:

You're someone who is energized by working in a space where the answers aren't known yet. You take ownership of problems rather than waiting for direction. You're rigorous but pragmatic. You know when a perfect result is worth waiting for and when a good-enough result unblocks the next step. You want to see your work matter, and you want to work with people who are genuinely excellent.

Why Join VioNano?

  • The opportunity to be one of the first scientists at a company doing genuinely new work in semiconductor materials

  • Direct collaboration with a world-class technical founding team

  • Daily access to state-of-the-art facilities at The Engine and MIT.nano

  • Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity

  • Cambridge, MA location — on-site (lab work requires physical presence)

How to apply

Send a resume and a brief note on why this role interests you to jobs@vionano.com. We're especially interested in hearing about the specific polymer synthesis projects you led during your PhD or postdoc, what made them challenging, and how you solved those problems.