About the role#
Lydian is seeking a Chemical Synthesis Engineer or Scientist Co-op for a 6-month term starting in Spring 2026. You will work on-site in our lab to design, synthesize, and test novel catalyst materials for our high-temperature reactor systems. Your work will directly influence which materials move toward our pilot and commercial systems. This is a paid, hands-on position.
What you'll do#
- Synthesize novel catalyst formulations to meet high-temperature reactor requirements, including preparing supports and precursor solutions.
- Load and operate bench-scale test reactors to identify promising formulations by tracking activity, selectivity, and stability.
- Scale up successful formulations to coat large substrates, adapting bench-scale recipes to larger batch sizes.
- Coordinate with partners, such as automotive catalyst suppliers, to develop scalable manufacturing techniques.
- Use advanced characterization techniques like XRD, electron microscopy, and thermal analysis to study material degradation.
- Collaborate with other project teams to solve problems related to coatings, reactor design, and system integration.
- Manage your own synthesis plans, including defining hypotheses and prioritizing experiments with guidance from Lydian engineers.
- Analyze experimental data, write reports, and maintain a database of catalyst formulations and performance.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a B.S. or M.S. program for Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
- Hands-on experience with wet lab techniques, such as solution preparation, precipitation, drying, and calcination.
- Undergraduate-level knowledge of reaction kinetics, heat transfer, and mass transport. Familiarity with heterogeneous catalysis is a plus.
- Ability to plan and execute experiments, collect data, and apply statistical analysis.
- A strong focus on lab safety, including experience with high-temperature furnaces, compressed gases, and chemical handling.
- A proactive mindset and the ability to ask questions in an environment where procedures are still being developed.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for sharing results with a cross-functional team.
Location & details#
- This role is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
- The position is fully on-site.
- This is a 6-month, full-time commitment.
About Lydian
Lydian manufactures renewable energy equipment. The company produces sustainable fuels and chemicals using CO2, water, and renewable electricity. It operates out of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2021, the firm employs between 11 and 50 people.
How to get in at Lydian
Applying early to Lydian gives you a distinct advantage because recruiters review applications before the pile grows. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you can be among the first to apply. This helps you avoid the frustration of submitting your materials to a full queue. You can also reach out to the recruiters behind Lydian roles directly to ask about the position or a referral. Intern Insider surfaces these specific contacts, which materially improves your response rates compared to standard cold applications.
