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Catalysis Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Virginia Tech

Postdoctoral Associate

Blacksburg, VA · On-site

They are seeking multiple full-time Postdoctoral Associates to develop agentic AI systems for computational catalysis and experimental design, collaborating with interdisciplinary research groups in ...

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How much do catalysis jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for catalysis in the United States is $154,846.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,500.00 and $184,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a catalysis?

A catalysis job involves researching, developing, and optimizing chemical reactions that use catalysts to enhance efficiency and selectivity. Professionals in this field work in industries such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and environmental science to improve processes like fuel production or emission reduction. Responsibilities may include catalyst design, reaction mechanism analysis, and process optimization. Scientists and engineers in this role often work in laboratories, using analytical techniques to evaluate catalyst performance. A strong background in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science is typically required.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in catalysis, and why are they important?

To thrive in Catalysis, a solid background in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science is essential, often supported by an advanced degree. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, catalytic reactors, and computational modeling tools such as MATLAB or ChemDraw is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help professionals stand out in research or industrial settings. These abilities are critical to designing, optimizing, and scaling catalytic processes that drive innovation and efficiency in the chemical industry.

What are the typical career advancement opportunities for professionals working in catalysis?

Professionals in catalysis can progress from entry-level research or process roles to senior scientist, project leader, or technical manager positions within industrial or academic settings. Advancement often depends on demonstrated expertise in catalyst design, process optimization, and successful project outcomes, as well as publication or patent contributions. Professionals may also expand their careers into related fields such as process development, quality control, or even commercial roles supporting technical sales and customer solutions. Many large organizations offer internal training, mentorship, and opportunities to lead interdisciplinary teams, supporting both technical and leadership growth.

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catalysis jobs near you
Infographic showing various Catalysis job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 10% Contract, and 5% Nights. Highlights an 85% In-person, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $154,846 per year, or $74.4 per hour.

Research Scientist, Computational Enzymology

Dayhoff Labs

Cambridge, MA • On-site

$140 - $190/hr

Other

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

About us

We're reverse-engineering the origin of life — one of the great unsolved problems in science, and one we think AI finally makes tractable. Understanding this transition, from geochemistry to biochemistry, is what will let us orchestrate molecular networks and build systems that are more capable, adaptive, and efficient.


If we succeed, the applications are vast: catalysis, green synthesis, ab initio synthetic biology, programmable matter. Understanding and harnessing these processes could let ten billion of us thrive on this planet — and let life keep evolving beyond it.


We're a small, diverse team of AI engineers, computational scientists, and bench scientists. We hold ourselves to the rigor of a research institute, but we ship like an engineering firm. Global team, HQs in Cambridge, MA and London, UK.


The role

You'll simulate enzyme-catalysed reactions from the physics up. Using reactive and free-energy methods you'll map how reactions proceed in the active site, compute transition states and barriers, and work out where the catalysis actually comes from: why a step has the barrier it does, which residues do the work, and how mutations move it. You'll work with the wider simulation and ML teams, but also directly with our bench scientists — seeing your predictions tested in vitro and getting experimental feedback on fast, tight loops.


What you'll do

  • Characterise mechanisms, transition states, and activation barriers in the active site, and compare computed barriers against measured kinetics

  • Pin down the origins of catalysis — the residues, interactions, and dynamics that set rate and selectivity — and use MD to understand how active-site motion shapes the reaction

  • Turn results into concrete, testable proposals for the wet lab, and fold the resulting data back into your models

  • Help physics-based and learned methods strengthen each other as we build them out


Essential experience

  • Expertise in enzymatic reaction modelling using QM/MM and a variety of free energy methods

  • A solid grasp of enzyme catalysis: mechanism, kinetics, cofactors, and how active-site chemistry and conformational dynamics sets rate and selectivity

  • Sound judgement about method selection, good understanding o methodological limitations and computational cost


Highly preferred

  • Experience in protein design for enzymatic optimization

  • You've run design–test–refine cycles with a wet lab before

  • Experience with reactive machine-learned potentials, or coupling physics-based modelling with ML


Logistics

Compensation is highly competitive. We're also able to sponsor visas for the right candidate.

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