Seaweed based binder qualification for carbon storing insulation manufacturing - BC-1035

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Chemistry, Natural Sciences
Company: Seafoam Materials
Project Length: 6 months to 1 year
Preferred start date: 09/15/2026
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Vancouver, BC, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: Master'sPhDRecent graduate
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Seafoam Materials is developing carbon-storing building insulation made from a proprietary seaweed-based binder and upcycled wood and paper fibres as a low-carbon alternative to conventional insulation. Our technology is designed to match the cost, installation practices, and thermal performance of existing batt insulation while reducing embodied carbon and storing biogenic carbon within buildings. Preliminary testing has achieved industry-relevant thermal performance, while a preliminary life cycle assessment indicates a 69% reduction in cradle-to-gate greenhouse gas emissions compared with mineral wool insulation.
As Seafoam advances from laboratory validation to pilot-scale manufacturing, establishing consistent raw material quality has become a critical commercialization challenge. Seaweed is a biologically variable feedstock whose chemistry differs across species, harvest conditions, and processing methods. These variations directly influence binder performance, manufacturing consistency, and final product properties.
Seafoam's long-term goal is to develop standardized specifications and quality control methods for seaweed-derived binder ingredients that enable repeatable manufacturing, regulatory testing, and commercial production of carbon-storing insulation across regional supply chains. This research supports the scientific foundation required to translate marine biomass into reliable construction materials.

Describe the project.: 

Seafoam Materials is developing carbon-storing building insulation using a proprietary seaweed-derived binder and upcycled wood and paper fibres. The proposed innovation focuses on developing analytical methods and material qualification protocols that support the consistent use of naturally variable seaweed feedstocks in the company's existing binder platform. This work will strengthen quality control and reduce variability as Seafoam advances toward pilot-scale manufacturing and commercialization.
The candidate will establish analytical datasets describing the chemical and material properties of selected seaweed feedstocks and Seafoam's proprietary binder formulations. Working alongside Seafoam's R&D team, the candidate will evaluate feedstock variability, characterize binder materials, and develop analytical specifications that support feedstock qualification, binder characterization and identify analytical indicators relevant to durability and fire resistance. The research will generate baseline scientific datasets that support feedstock screening, qualification, and analytical quality control, complementing Seafoam's ongoing internal technology development and informing future manufacturing quality assurance practices.
Methodologies will be selected based on the research objectives and may include carbohydrate profiling, ash and mineral analysis, viscosity measurements, FTIR, DSC, TGA, rheology, microscopy, and other appropriate analytical techniques for biomaterials characterization. Experimental results will be analyzed to establish repeatable characterization methods, compare feedstock properties, and document material characteristics relevant to quality control and manufacturing.
The project is well suited to researchers with expertise in biomaterials, polymer science, analytical chemistry, or materials characterization who are interested in applying advanced analytical methods to an emerging class of sustainable building materials. The outcomes will contribute to improved material qualification, analytical quality assurance, and scientific understanding of seaweed-derived biomaterials while supporting the commercialization of low-carbon construction products.

Required expertise/skills: 

Specific Skills
● Biomaterials, polymer science, analytical chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering
● Experimental design and laboratory research
● Materials characterization and data interpretation
● Development of analytical methods and quality control protocols
● Scientific writing and statistical data analysis
Specific Software
● OriginPro, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent scientific data analysis software
● Microsoft Excel
● ImageJ (asset)
Preferred Analytical Techniques
● FTIR
● DSC
● TGA
● Rheology
● Viscosity measurement
● Carbohydrate profiling
● Ash and mineral analysis
● Optical microscopy and/or SEM
Optional Assets
● Experience with seaweed chemistry, alginate, carrageenan, hydrocolloids, or other natural polymers
● Experience with biomass-derived materials or sustainable building materials
● Knowledge of durability, thermal degradation, fire-related material behaviour, or industrial quality assurance
● Experience collaborating with industry or applied commercialization projects