Chemist – Warsaw
QED (https://qed.ai) is a tech company building data systems and AI for agriculture and health, in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. We provide mission-critical support for many international projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, collaborating with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Gates Foundation, CIMMYT, and USAID.
Many challenges in food security are road-blocked by the scarcity of sufficient environmental data for making decisions. Most agricultural players have no means of rapidly assessing the health of their soils, plants, seeds, and fertilizers, particularly in rural areas.
Consequently, QED is developing novel hardware sensors for collecting environmental data more affordably and easily, using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy and automated chemistry. Our work lies at the intersection of mechatronics, chemistry, physics, and computing.
QED aims to expand its chemistry and analytical team to support this hardware development.
Required Skills:
+2 years of laboratory experience, preferably with hands-on chemical mixing and analysis
Strong understanding of chemical reactions, particularly inorganic and organic compound interactions
Knowledge of spectroscopy techniques such as UV-Vis, NIR, FTIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy
Experience with analytical instruments such as spectrophotometers, pH meters, and titration equipment
Ability to prepare and standardize solutions, calibrate instruments, and follow precise measurement protocols
Experience working in a chemistry laboratory with safety protocols and proper chemical handling procedures
Strong organizational skills for recording experimental data and analyzing results
English fluency: B2 or higher (hard requirement)
English typing speed >= 40 words per minute
Bonus (but not required):
Experience with chemometrics or data analysis software (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB)
Knowledge of soil or plant chemistry, nutrient analysis, or environmental sampling
Familiarity with infrared or reflectance spectroscopy techniques for material analysis
We are seeking a chemist who can efficiently prepare and test chemical mixtures, conduct spectroscopic measurements, and contribute to the development of novel environmental sensors.
What can you expect:
unusual, socially conscious projects
little bureaucracy
significant ownership
ability and encouragement to explore technologies other than your main expertise
optional travel to learn more about problems we're trying to solve
Requires a full-time commitment physically based in Warsaw, Poland, with a hybrid of remote and in-person work throughout the week. We expect at least 2-3 days per week in the office. The working hours are flexible, for example you do not need approval to take out a small chunk in the middle of the day to handle some personal business.
Compensation is competitive and commensurate to experience.
Work with nice people!
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