Materials Chemistry Intern

Job Brief

The Polymer Team sits within the Chemistry division at Twelve and is responsible for developing, evaluating and processing new polymeric materials for Twelve's CO2 electrolyzer. We aim to understand the structural-property-performance relationship between the molecular structure of polymer and performance of the reactor for better performance and durability.

Polymer electrolyte evaluation and processing is a critical step that enables our Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) fabrication and experimental procedures and is key to making technical progress. As a Materials Chemistry Intern, you will help us develop new procedures to fabricate and characterize polymers with desirable properties and upgrade the polymer processing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). You will have opportunities to work on projects in collaboration with other teams at Twelve across various disciplines. 

We strive to create an inclusive work environment where every employee and intern can do their best work and be their true selves. We encourage interested candidates from all ethnic groups, genders, sexuality, age, and abilities to apply. If this job description resonates with you, we want to hear from you!

This role is located at our headquarters in Berkeley, CA.

What you will do:

• Fabricate polymer electrolyte membrane
• Perform basic materials characterization (such as NMR, HPLC, and GPC)
• Analyze characterization data, summarize results, and present to the technical team
• Work with project lead to update SOPs for polymer synthesis and pre/post treatment, and train other team members on SOPs
• Help with polymer related electrochemical reactions
• Maintain a safe and clean laboratory environment
• Process basic organic synthetic reactions
• Present your findings in an ongoing fashion to the Polymer Team and, at the end of your internship, to the broader organization
• Learn a lot and have fun!

For our internship roles, you will need to be: 

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master's degree program with at least one semester or quarter remaining post-internship​
• Currently pursuing a major in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related STEM Field
• Available to work 40 hours per week for 10-12 weeks during the summer​ (May or June through August or September)
• Major, experience, or demonstrable interest in the position you apply for

We are looking for qualifications and experience that includes:

• You have hands-on work experience in a polymer/organic/electrochemistry lab, with experience in polymer processing, characterization, and performance evaluation
• You are familiar with polymer characterization techniques, such as NMR, UV-Vis, and FT-IR
• You have outstanding communication skills and ability to present results effectively
• You have high attention to detail and strong record-keeping, documentation, and organization skills
• You are open-minded and motivated to work on a multi-cultural team

Internship Program Highlights:

• Meaningful projects with real business impact
• Intern-specific Activities 
• Career Development and Mentorship
• Peer & Senior Level Networking​
• Participation in Company Stand-up meetings, Employee Groups, and more!