Senior Research Scientist: Biopolymer Chemistry and Processing in New York

Job Description: Sustainability in fashion and textiles requires rethinking how raw materials are designed and produced. A circular industry needs alternatives to synthetic fibers and new ways to recover value from materials that would otherwise go to waste. At Finiks Forge, we give protein waste new life as regenerated material for the textile industry. Drawing on biomolecular self-assembly, we develop materials that build on the remarkable properties of natural fibers. Our work is supported by a Science Foundation SBIR award and partners across the textile supply chain. We are seeking a Senior Research Scientist to lead the molecular and formulation science behind regenerated keratin materials across extraction, purification, formulation, and processing. This is a hands-on laboratory role for an independent scientist who can connect protein structure, molecular interactions, and formulation behavior to reproducible fiber properties. The position is based on-site in Brooklyn, New York, and reports directly to the CEO. What You Will Lead

• Design and execute independent research programs, lead the technology roadmap, and supervise an Associate Scientist responsible for controlled fiber-production trials and quantitative characterization.
• Develop keratin extraction, purification, modification, stabilization, and formulation protocols that preserve or control molecular structure while improving processability and fiber performance.
• Establish protein structure–formulation–process–property relationships linking molecular organization, intermolecular interactions, extraction conditions, and formulation parameters to spinnability, fiber morphology, stress–strain behavior, and wet stability.
• Scale processes from bench experiments to pilot batches, addressing mixing, heat and mass transfer, filtration, solvent recovery, process safety, and batch-to-batch reproducibility.
• Design comparative experiments that separate effects of protein structure, formulation, and spinning conditions; use replicate fiber measurements, design of experiments, and statistical analysis to set priorities.
• Develop analytical methods and specifications for protein molecular properties, concentration, rheology, stability, and final fiber performance; select methods that reveal causes of mechanical defects.
• Troubleshoot complex chemical and process failures, determine root causes, and communicate evidence-based recommendations.
• Contribute to invention disclosures, patent applications, trade-secret documentation, grant reporting, and technical presentations.
• Direct the Associate Scientist's fiber-production trials: set experimental priorities, review spinning and stress–strain data, diagnose defects, and translate results into extraction and formulation decisions. Coordinate specialized scale-up work with external partners.

Experience

• Hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge of structural biopolymers, such as keratin, silk fibroin, collagen, chitin, or chitosan.
• Experience collaborating with fiber-spinning teams and interpreting the effects of spinneret design, shear, coagulation, drawing, and post-processing on fiber properties; direct wet-spinning experience is a plus.
• Highly concentrated polymer solutions, non-Newtonian rheology, formulation additives, and process stability.
• Membrane filtration, solvent or salt recovery, pressurized reactors, pilot equipment, or process-control systems.
• Technology transfer, external manufacturing partnerships, patent development, or federally funded R&D programs.