MSc Student/Accelerate Intern
Company Description
With increasing electrification needs, the global demand for batteries and smart energy storage systems is on the rise, driven primarily by three major sectors: EVs, stationary energy storage, lightweight structural batteries, and consumer electronics. This phenomenon goes together with increasing demand for sustainable, low-cost, and lightweight materials, as we are at the verge of depleting all our natural resources while tackling climate change. To gain access to inexpensive and sustainable lightweight materials that can in turn serve the excruciating demands for >6000 GWh energy demand by 2030, CarboMat has been working tirelessly over the past 5+ years to produce low-cost sustainable carbon products (i.e., carbon fibers and battery anodes) from low-value waste by-products for commercial adoption. Our innovative technologies require at least 30-50% less energy with a 35-60% lower production cost compared to incumbents. As we continue to grow, our goal is to contribute towards a net-zero future sooner before 2050 and help Canada be a leader in the global energy industry.
About the position
CarboMat is looking for an Accelerate Intern/MSc Student to support our daily operations in all the ongoing projects. The successful candidate will be a core member of a small but quickly growing talented group of engineers, researchers, and scientists. The candidate will report directly to the founders of the company and will pursue a fully funded thesis-based MSc degree at the University of Calgary.
Duration: Full-Time, 2 Years.
Starting Date: January 1, 2026.
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada.
Stipend: $30,000/year
Role Description
- Conduct extensive physico-chemical characterization (e.g., FTIR, XRD, TGA, XPS, CHNS, SEM, Raman, etc.) on heavy bitumen hydrocarbons (e.g., asphaltenes, vacuum residue, hydro-conversion bottoms, etc.) to evaluate feedstock suitability for anode synthesis
- Perform a series of chemical, physical, and thermal pre-treatments on the feedstock to tailor their microstructural properties towards high-quality hard carbon and synthetic graphite production followed by their detailed physico-chemical characterization (e.g., BET, CHNS, tap density, XRD, Raman, TEM, etc.)
- Evaluate and optimize the chemical reaction parameters for generation of anisotropic domains with desired properties (e.g., domain size, optical texture, QI content, etc.) from the feedstock material for synthetic graphite production
- Lead electrode fabrication and cell engineering to assemble Li-ion and Na-ion battery coin and single layer pouch cells for extensive testing to evaluate battery performance (e.g., ICE, energy density, specific capacity, cycling stability, capacity retention, etc.)
- Optimize battery performance through different combinations of electrolytes, cathodes, separators, etc.
- Collaborate with multiple project partners and strategic stakeholders (e.g., potential customers) for design and testing of various anode materials in different battery system verticals
- Prepare milestone reports regularly with key findings for ongoing projects, outlining progress, challenges, and future objectives
- Assist other researchers within the team in preparing scientific manuscripts for publications
- Assist patent preparation activities to protect innovative technologies and developments ensuring compliance with intellectual property laws and regulations
- Conduct regular experimental analysis, quantification, and validation of results including troubleshooting and optimizing experimental conditions
- Foster laboratory and plant safety protocols and maintain best practices
Skills and Qualifications
- BSc in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related disciplines
- Minimum 3 months of experience in fabrication of energy storage systems (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors, etc.)
- Minimum 3 months of intermediate experience in anode and cathode synthesis, electrode fabrication, cell engineering, and battery performance testing
- Intermediate laboratory skills with wet chemistry techniques and material characterization techniques (e.g., FTIR, XRD, CHNS, TGA, TG-MS, XPS, Raman, rheology, cross polarized microscopy, softening point measurement, etc.) following laboratory safety and hazard
- Intermediate to advanced skills in design, optimization, and scale-up of industrial processes including expertise in mass and energy balances, process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), reactor design and sizing
- Excellent communication and organizational skills and ability to lead and collaborate with internal and external teams; ability to multi-task and have a strong focused mindset
- Outstanding technical writer (protocols, reports, investigations, etc.)
- Willing to grow with the company and contribute towards technology development
- The candidate needs to be a Canadian PR, Citizen, or have a valid study permit to work for this role
CarboMat is deeply committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Our core values, including integrity, innovation, accountability, inclusivity, adaptability, and teamwork, guide our daily interactions and decision-making. We believe that by embracing these values, our employees contribute not only to the success of our organization but also to their own personal and professional growth. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We invite you to explore how your skills and values align with our company, and we look forward to discussing how you can make a meaningful impact as a valued member of our team.
If you are passionate about this opportunity and believe that you have the skills to excel in this role, please apply and we look forward to reviewing your application. Position will remain open until the ideal candidate is found.
Application Instructions
Interested applicants should send their resume to hiring@carbomatinc.com. Please note that, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.