Principal Scientist - Materials and Polymer Chemistry - Werewool Inc.

Werewool is an early stage biotech company based in New York City that is developing biodegradable fibers with inherent, DNA-programmed performance properties for the textile industry.  Mimicking the way nature achieves aesthetics and functional performance, Werewool designs proteins to give our fibers material properties like stretch, color, and water resistance, without the use of plastics, dyes, or finishes. Our goal is to offer the fashion and textile industry a raw material that offers independence from the far reaching environmental impacts of conventional plastic textile fibers, toxic dyes, and finishing processes.

We have an exciting opportunity available to a motivated and self-directed scientist to lead our R&D efforts in a new biopolymeric system with Werewool’s engineered proteins and achieve targeted performance within a green chemistry framework. The candidate will be working with our team in a highly interdisciplinary, fast paced environment, and designing, executing and overseeing experiments in areas of polymer chemistry with a focus on crosslinking polymeric systems. 

Scope of Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct experiments to create innovative strategies for producing bio-compostable fibers for textile applications, using Werewool’s engineered proteins and polymers based on their molecular-level structure-function relationships.

• Translate business needs into research strategies, engage with internal and external stakeholders to identify and evaluate new ideas, and develop the necessary fundamentals to bring new chemistry from concept to commercial success.

• Utilize characterization techniques to develop critical formulation screening tools and responsible for developing structure and property relationships in polymer chemistry.

• Apply scientific/technical expertise to identify and provide viable solutions to resolve complex development issues in chemistry and process.

• Collaborate closely with the protein engineering team to develop formulating chemistry and formulation experimental strategies, design and execute experiments, analyze results, and report progress .

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to junior team members, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in polymer science

Requirements: 

• PhD in Polymer Chemistry, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or a related discipline. 

• Extensive hands-on experience with polymer synthesis and formulation of resins or solutions to characterize them.

• Expert in polymer characterization techniques and analysis including but not limited to  rheology, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and etc.

• 15+ years of relevant industrial experience in polymer synthesis or formulation development

• In-depth knowledge of green chemistry and experience applying these principles to materials development and innovation is desired.

• Self-starter who desires to learn and work collaboratively across different scientific disciplines to develop Werewool’s fibers, including molecular biology, polymer chemistry, and textile engineering.

• Previous experience working with bio-composites and hybrid materials is a plus.

• A passion to see a better future for our planet.

Salary commensurate with experience. Please send a statement of interest and resume to hello@werewool.bio