Principal Investigator (PI) – Critical Material Extraction (NSF STTR Phase Full-time NEW

Position Overview

We are seeking an entrepreneurial Senior Chemist or Chemical Engineer to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) for our upcoming National Science Foundation (NSF) Phase I STTR proposal. The project focuses on the development and validation of an innovative chemical extraction technology targeting critical materials.

The PI will operate at the core of a three-part leadership structure, working directly with the Company Founder on commercial milestones and collaborating seamlessly with our academic research institution partner’s Co-PI to coordinate subaward laboratory benchmarks.

Core Responsibilities

• Phase I Proposal & Technical Leadership: Serve as the primary PI on the NSF Phase I STTR proposal for the November 4, 2026 deadline. Author technical sections, define milestones, and establish experimental protocols for critical material extraction.
• Founder & Co-PI Collaboration: Act as the technical anchor bridging the startup’s business objectives (led by the Founder) and the university’s raw laboratory R&D (led by the academic Co-PI).
• R&D Execution & Compliance: Oversee chemical process development, purity verification, and extraction efficiency metrics during the 6–12 month Phase I cycle. Ensure total compliance with NSF grant data recording and safety policies.
• Phase II Transition Planning: Work alongside the Founder to convert successful Phase I benchtop extraction metrics into an aggressive commercialization plan for the NSF Phase II application.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Hydrometallurgy, Materials Science, or a closely related technical field.
• Domain Expertise: Direct, hands-on experience with chemical extraction, separation science, or critical material recovery (e.g., rare earth elements, lithium, battery recycling, or precious metal catalysis).
• NSF STTR Employment Eligibility: Must be willing and legally able to commit to more than 50% primary employment with the small business at the exact time of the award and for the duration of the project. (NSF considers employment elsewhere of more than 19.6 hours per week to be a conflict).
• Skills: Strong collaborative background working with university tech-transfer systems or academic subawards.

💼 Compensation & Equity Framework

This position balances upfront grant-funded security with a high-upside equity mechanism designed to retain top-tier talent while strictly protecting foundational company equity.

• Phase I (R&D Stage):
  • Cash Salary: Competitively budgeted institutional base salary drawn directly from approved NSF Phase I grant funds (calculated based on your documented effort commitment).
  • Equity & Stock Options: None. No equity or corporate stock benefits are issued during the initial Phase I proof-of-concept cycle.
• Phase II (Commercial Scale & Market Entry):
  • Cash Salary: Upgraded senior scientist/executive salary tier financed through NSF Phase II funding
  • Milestone-Vesting Stock Options: Granted immediately at the commencement of Phase II. These options follow a strict performance-vesting schedule, unlocking progressively only upon the successful technical validation of the critical material extraction technology at a commercial pilot scale.

Tagged as: Chemistry