Senior Scientist - Geochemical Modeling

Location: San Francisco, CA or São Paulo, Brazil

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Senior Scientist (Geochemical Modeling) to join our Research & Development team. As a lead contributor on the growing modeling team, you will be integral to our work building the foundational scientific knowledge and developing the novel solutions needed to track and quantify the net impact (carbon, agronomic, and broader ecosystem) of enhanced rock weathering (ERW). You will own projects using geochemical models to predict weathering rates and the reactive transport of weathering products through soil, groundwater, and surface water systems – tracking key processes and impacts from the field to the sea. Your work will directly support Terradot’s mission to help stabilize Earth’s climate by transforming nature’s most powerful permanent carbon removal process into a global climate solution.

Role Responsibilities: 

• Lead and execute reactive transport and biogeochemical modeling projects:

  • Parameterize and run Terradot's MIN3P-based soil model to answer priority research questions. 

  • Conduct simulations to support carbon removal crediting calculations, the development of improved monitoring approaches to quantify the net climate impact of ERW deployments, and build decision-making tools.

  • Generate predictions to inform the design of field experiments and optimize deployment strategies.

  • Develop and implement models that track the fate of weathering products in downstream environments (groundwater, surface water), simulating key biogeochemical interactions and their impact on the net greenhouse gas balance.

  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to propose and develop new modeling approaches.

  • Integrate data generated by Terradot’s experiments, field trials and deployments with data from external sources to support model development and validation.

  • Analyze, interpret, and communicate simulation results to inform strategic decision-making and technology development.

• Communicate and collaborate

  • Prepare technical reports, presentations, and scientific publications to communicate simulation results and implications. 

  • Present research findings at scientific conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.

  • Work closely with scientists, engineers, and data analysts across the organization.

  • Provide technical expertise and guidance on geochemical modeling to other team members. 

Background and Requirements: 

• Education: 

  • PhD in Geology, Geochemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or a related field. Or an MS degree in a relevant field with 5+ years of experience.

• Experience:

  • 5+ years of demonstrated experience developing and applying reactive transport models to porous media, with a strong preference for soil systems.

  • Candidates should have a strong foundation in the principles of fluid flow, solute and gas transport, and geochemical processes. Expertise in soils and plant-soil interactions is highly desirable.

  • (bonus) Experience working with plant or crop models, particularly in agricultural systems.

• Skills:

  • Proficiency in using reactive transport models such as MIN3P, CrunchFlow, ToughReact, or similar is required.

  • Proficiency in scientific programming for data analysis, visualization, and model automation. A strong command of python is preferred.

  • Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

  • Ability to apply geochemical principles to design simulations and interpret results.

  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Personal Attributes: 

• Mission-driven, with a deep motivation for contributing to climate solutions.

• Intellectual curiosity and a strong desire to learn and grow within a dynamic research environment.

• A collaborative and results-oriented approach to problem-solving, with the ability to effectively communicate and work with interdisciplinary teams.

• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.

• A positive, action-oriented mindset with a focus on outcomes.

• A strong desire to contribute to cutting-edge research and development in carbon dioxide removal.

About Us: 

Our mission is to stabilize Earth’s climate by transforming nature’s most powerful permanent carbon removal process into a global climate solution. By advancing science, building technology, and assembling a global coalition, we are catalyzing a global initiative to scale Enhanced Rock Weathering within the next decade, starting in Brazil. 

Founded out of the Stanford University ecosystem, Terradot is led by the world’s leading experts to advance the science and technology of ERW. Our unique structure bridges industry, academia, and government and allows our team to contribute with speed & scale. We have raised $58.2M in total funding from John Doerr, Sheryl Sandberg & Tom Bernthal, George Roberts, Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, Google, Cisco and Venture Funds, Floodgate, Kleiner Perkins, Acre Venture Partners, Gigascale Capital, Valor Capital, Ponderosa Ventures and others. We have sold ~300,000 tons in offtakes from leading CDR buyers like Frontier and Google.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Research suggests that qualified people from historically marginalized groups may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.