Cofounder and Chief Science Officer, Lantheon

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Science, or Hydrometallurgy, with a focus on rare-earth or critical-material separation. 10+ years of progressive industrial or research experience in rare-earths, specialty chemicals, or advanced materials. Proven success in scaling chemical or metallurgical processes from bench or pilot to production scale. Demonstrated ability to manage or lead multi-million-dollar R&D or CAPEX projects. Deep understanding of solvent extraction, ion exchange, and electrochemical refining. Expertise in laboratory safety, high-purity materials handling, and environmental compliance. Hands-on mindset with the ability to bridge academic theory with industrial practicality.

Direct all technical strategy, research, and development efforts across rare-earth separation, hydrometallurgy, and process optimization. Establish and lead collaborations with premier U.S. universities and national labs. Lead technical due diligence and data validation for licensed or co-developed processes. Oversee the adaptation of lab-scale results into pilot-scale and commercial-ready systems. Collaborate with COO and EPC partners to build, test, and validate a modular separation line. Support engineering design and technical specifications for expansion. Establish and enforce QA/QC protocols. Collaborate on DOE, DoD, and ARPA-E proposals. Present scientific progress and milestones to the board, investors, and government partners.