Postdoctoral Associate

Job description / Role

Description

The Water Research Center at New York University Abu Dhabi seeks to recruit a postdoctoral associate to work on membrane surface patterning for water treatment applications, under the supervision of Dr Daniel Johnson, assistant professor of engineering and co-PI of the Water Research Center.

The successful applicant will lead an innovative project focused on the development of hybrid processes for the recovery of minerals from desalination reject brine. The role will involve development of a range of mineral extraction processes at the lab and pilot scale. This will include development and testing of innovative membrane materials for water recovery, adsorption processes, ion exchange, and solvent extraction. Ultimately, the candidate will develop and test hybrid systems using combinations of these technologies to find low cost and environmentally sustainable methods to reduce environmental impacts of desalination waste streams whilst recovering minerals of economic importance.

The successful applicant will oversee projects, develop extensive technical expertise, and implement innovative solutions. He or she will contribute to the development of novel concepts and proposal writing, while efficiently addressing complex challenges. Responsibilities will include writing reports, authoring publications, drafting patents, and presenting results at conferences. The ideal candidate will possess demonstrated knowledge and experience of membrane fabrication and characterization, and desalination and other water treatment processes, including working at both the bench and pilot scale. Experience in assessment of environmental impacts of processes, such as life cycle analysis, is desirable. Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and exceptional verbal and written communication abilities are essential. The candidate should be capable of working both independently and collaboratively within a team.

Applicants must have a PhD in chemical or process engineering, environmental engineering, materials science and engineering, or a related field. Excellent experimental and analytical skills relevant to the project (in particular membrane fabrication, materials characterization, aqueous chemistry, and desalination processes) are required. Candidates with a demonstrated history of peer-reviewed publications in a related area, along with prior expertise in materials science and environmental chemistry, will be preferred.

This position will begin in March 2026, as a two-year contract. The terms of employment are very competitive and include housing and educational subsidies for children. Applications will be accepted immediately and candidates will be considered until the position is filled.

About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai form the backbone of NYUu2019s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing through its academic, research, and creative activities.

Equal opportunity employer. UAE nationals are encouraged to apply.