Post Doctoral Research Associate Membrane Fabrication

About the Role
SEMS is seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to join a lively multidisciplinary research group, LivingstonLab under Prof. Andrew Livingston to investigate the fabrication of advanced membranes for highly selective molecular separations in organic liquids.

About You
The successful candidate will seek to develop new fabrication techniques for membranes based around phase inversion, crosslinking, interfacial polymerisation, and coating. In addition to creating new membranes, they will characterise membrane morphology, determine membrane performance, and relate the polymer type and membrane morphology to this performance. They will also engage in research into membrane fouling and flux decline, and seek to understand the solute journey in a synthetic membrane. We will be working to pioneer new membranes with improved performance in terms of selectivity, robustness and permeance and we are looking for a creative and insightful approach. We will also be considering how to make any new membranes in roll-to-roll processing, after lab bench proving tests. The candidate will also be expected to work in teams applying these membranes to a diverse ranges of applications including refining, drug synthesis and biobased products. It is essential for the candidate to hold a PhD (or equivalent) in chemical engineering or materials science/chemistry.

The successful candidate will have a background in membrane fabrication, preferably polymer membranes, and possess a thorough knowledge of membrane functional and morphological characterisation. Experience of organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) would also be useful. They will have a fluent understanding of chemical analytical techniques. They should also be able to demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to exercise initiative and judgement in carrying out research tasks.

About the School
SEMS is vibrant and diverse, with 80-90 academics and a similar number of postdoctoral research staff. There are 1000 undergraduate and taught postgraduate students and 220 PhD students, supported by an administrative and technical team.

About Queen Mary
At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits
We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities including an on-site nursery at the Mile End campus.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability.

The post is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for ONE year (in the first instance), with an expected start date of 1 March 2024.

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