Team Spotlight: Eric Liu, Senior Process Engineer on the Process Modeling Team

Learn how Eric uses his deep background in chemical engineering and process modeling to help build, refine and scale Brimstone's technology.

Eric Liu joined Brimstone in 2022, bringing a deep background in chemical engineering and process modeling. After developing diagnostic materials to help detect Alzheimer's disease markers during his PhD at Tufts, he transitioned into process modeling as a consultant to global specialty chemical companies before bringing his experience to the team.

As Senior Process Engineer, Eric helps to build, analyze, and refine Brimstone’s process models to develop a system designed to scale. Over the years, his role and responsibilities have also expanded as the company has grown. "I started as a modeler because that's what Brimstone needed; as we're growing and need to fill different gaps, I've learned new skills and tried to use them to provide what we need to reach the next level," he said. 

As Eric put it, "Brimstone’s mission is really hard, but it's also probably one of the most noble ones we could possibly do. Being able to be part of that and having the skills to contribute meaningfully to that with a great team is really special." 

Learn more about his career path and work at Brimstone below. 

Where are you from?

I was born in New York, but I moved around growing up. I lived in Chicago for a few years and then spent middle and high school in New Jersey. I went to college at Caltech in California. Later, I did grad school at Tufts in the Boston area.

Tell us about your day-to-day responsibilities.

As a senior process engineer on the modeling team, I do a variety of things. My primary job is to develop a model of the Brimstone process and also analyze how we can make our process better—more economical, fewer emissions, and more efficient. At first, that involved a lot of reading literature and industrial sources. Then, as we built the process and began iterating and testing in the lab, I'm now working more on engineering package work. So, what that means is I'm drawing diagrams, and I'm communicating more with the pilot team about how we use the data to validate our model and our economics and scale up past the pilot.

Why did you decide to join Brimstone?

I went to grad school and was part of a lab trying to develop novel materials for diagnostics. Specifically, I was working on trying to make a material that could help selectively detect Alzheimer's disease markers. So it was very different from what I am doing now. Back then, I would look at a microscope all day—experiments and wet lab stuff. Alzheimer's impacts a lot of people—my grandpa had Alzheimer's—so I know it's really hard, especially for the families affected. But at the same time, I wanted to contribute to something that had even more impact—and I felt really drawn to climate. Around that time, I collaborated with someone starting a consulting company called SIMACRO, specializing in process modeling who was interested in hiring me. I was the first employee there.

After getting my PhD, I pivoted toward this more computational work, which involves meeting with many clients internationally. My former boss was one of the main developers of the software we use, Aspen, so I got to learn a lot about process modeling very quickly. We traveled to Korea, met clients in Japan and all over the world, and helped them improve their processes through process modeling. I was there for a few years and had the chance to see how different big chemical companies worked and approached their own challenges. I realized then that I could use process modeling to do many things that could impact many people.

A few years later, one of the clients I had worked for moved to Brimstone. He reached out to me, and when I heard about what Brimstone was doing, I thought it was really interesting. Actually, from a foundational level, the company is trying to be sustainable. We're trying to do something big. After speaking with Cody and the team, I realized that if Brimstone were successful, it could have a real, major impact on global communities. Over the years, I've realized that life is precious, and it's important to use your time in a way that's meaningful to you. For me, that's working at Brimstone.

What's your favorite thing about working here?

For me, having the end goal is very important, but what gets me through is having a bright and motivated team that you can trust. Having that kind of culture and work environment is important, which will help you reach that end goal. If you can't trust your team, then it's really hard. The best thing is the people here, honestly. Everyone I've worked with has been amazing, and I'm grateful to have these kinds of teammates. Nobody is perfect, but we're all trying to grow and have the right intentions and motivations.

What are some of the biggest challenges you encounter in your work, and how do you push through them?

I connect with a lot of people and departments, and right now my biggest challenge is trying to juggle everything. We're a pretty small team, and since we work with many different people, people lean on us. Being able to deliver all the various urgent things can be tricky. It's about managing your time most effectively, bringing the unique skills you've learned, and leveraging those as best you can to the different asks being presented to us.

How would you describe your work at Brimstone?

Using all the skills I've gained the best way I can to contribute to this amazing undertaking. I think that's been true the whole time I've been here. I started as a modeler because that's what Brimstone needed; as we're growing and need to fill different gaps, I've learned new skills and tried to use them to provide what we need to reach the next level. Brimstone’s mission is really hard, but it's also probably one of the most noble ones we could possibly do. Being able to be part of that and having the skills to contribute meaningfully to that with a great team is really special.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?

I have a musical background, so I like to sing and play the guitar and violin. I try to do a cover every Christmas. I like video games, board games, travel, and trying new cuisines.