Yama - Chemist intern
Yama
Posted on Apr 8, 2025
Yama - Chemist intern
I. Company introduction:
Yama is solving the biggest threat humanity ever faced: Climate Change with the ambitious goal to remove a billion tons of CO2 by 2050.
Yama’s purpose is to scale up, industrialize, and launch on the market the lowest energy consumption scalable Direct Air Capture technology.
DAC is a necessary technology to keep the Earth’s temperature below 1.5°C, but today’s processes would consume unsustainable quantities of energy, land, or water if deployed at the required scale. We are solving that.
The technology is based on a novel integration of two CO2 desorption technologies, which allows Yama to undercut the thermodynamic and kinetic limits of existing processes.
Yama is a spin-out from Deep Science Ventures and is funded by the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, which was incorporated in May 2023. Yama currently operates in Paris, France.
II. Job General scope:
Yama is looking for a chemistry intern in its R&D team to work on a key part of its technology: solvent design and development.
The role will support the R&D team on experiments and defining the tech roadmap on solvent choices and development with the Chemist and Absorption Process Engineer.
The role will consist of:
Contributing to an extensive literature review on solvents for CO2 capture which may be relevant to the Yama process (if needed, designing organic molecules that have the desired characteristics)
Supporting molecule synthesis (adapted from literature work or from own custom design)
Supporting screening tests (CO2 absorption kinetics, viscosity, density, conductivity, volatility, stability, …)
Contributing to the development of solvent testing setups (in-house)
The industrialization pathway is essential to Yama. Therefore, developments on solvents must always be related to technical-economic analysis at an industrial scale: production method, production capacity, availability of raw materials, and cost of production.
This development will be performed under the guidance of the Chemist and Absorption Engineer, in partnership with external companies or R&D partners, such as but not limited to: suppliers, academic or private R&D group, external experts…
III. Main achievements/Missions/Objectives:
The main responsibilities of the Chemist intern would be to:
Support R&D developments on the solvent to be used in the Yama process, with an understanding of process challenges on absorption and regeneration units.
In coordination with the R&D team, design a 4-month R&D program to choose a readily available solvent for the pilot unit.
In coordination with the R&D team, design a 3-year R&D program to develop a new solvent from lab scale to industrial production.
Contribute to solvent testing protocols, build experimental set-ups, and perform them at the Yama lab in Paris or partner facilities.
Support external partnerships (academic and industrial) to execute the designed R&D programs.
Contribute to IP development regarding the solvent (competitor benchmark, IP production for Yama).
IV- Position Benefits
The position will offer a valuable hands-on opportunity to work in a fast-paced, evolving industrial environment with R&D, focused on solving applied immediate problems.
It’s a 6-month intern position (min 5 months).
Enjoy the innovative spirit within the dynamic international team based in the center of Paris.
Networking with a plethora of deep-tech startups and companies.
The position will offer the opportunity to make a practical contribution to mitigating the climate crisis.
V- Qualification requirements:
The qualifications needed are by order of importance:
Currently pursuing a Master level in organic/physical/polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, or material science.
Competences in CO2 Capture or Utilization would be a plus, but not essential
Obsessed by execution & results-oriented, team working spirit, and autonomy.
Flexibility on the type of duties to be performed and capacity to work on different topics at the same time – Polyvalent/Multitask.
English proficiency (french not essential)
How to reach out:
We are searching for a rock star to join this bold climate adventure, if you’re that person please send a CV + a “Why you & How you make the difference” to hello@yamacarbon.com