School/Department School of Water, Energy and Environment
Based at Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered
Contract type Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period 18 months
Salary £30,600 (Research Assistant) or £33,309 (Research Fellow)
Apply by 23/08/2020

Role Description

Research Assistant (if PhD near to completion) or Research Fellow (if PhD completed) in Membrane Crystallisation

Cranfield Water Science Institute (CWSI) at Cranfield University welcomes applications from membrane technologists or crystallisation scientists.

As the UK’s only exclusively postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships is creating leaders in technology and management globally.  Our distinctive expertise is in our deep understanding of technology and management and how these work together to benefit the world.

Our people are our most valuable resource and everyone has a role to play in shaping the future of our university, developing our learners, and transforming the businesses we work with. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here: Working life at Cranfield.

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. To find out more please visit our website: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/about

CWSI has over 40 years’ experience in the sector and we are recognised internationally for our transformational research and teaching in the science, engineering and management of water. Cranfield houses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, enabling research to be undertaken in all areas of water science, and in addition operates the National Research Facility for Water and Wastewater Treatment, offering a unique suite of near industrial-scale piloting facilities which are globally leading. The membrane group within CWSI is built on a strong heritage of delivering internationally competitive science and we are seeking a highly motivated individual to grow our group and support the delivery of pioneering research into membrane facilitated crystallisation funded by the European Research Council. Further information can be found by visiting: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/themes/water

Crystallisation is a critical industrial unit process for multiple industrial sectors, but has acknowledged problems with scalability and product control. The project titled, ‘Sustainable Chemical Alternatives for Re-use in the Circular Economy – SCARCE’ seeks to advance the science underpinning membrane facilitated crystallisation, which is a ‘next generation’ crystallisation technology that is inherently more scalable than conventional approaches and thus promotes considerably higher product quality and yield for less energy. The identified candidate will work within a team of exiting researchers to advance understanding of the basic separation principles underpinning membrane crystallisation, to create a suite of viable technical solutions that solve critical separation challenges for the environment sector.

You will have a PhD (or near to completion) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline, and extensive knowledge of either membrane systems engineering, or crystallisation is essential. Applicants must have a proven ability in the design, build and construction of laboratory testing equipment, as well as undertaking extensive laboratory based experimental research.

In return, you will have exciting opportunities for career development in this key position, and to be at the forefront of world leading research and education, joining a supportive team and environment.

At Cranfield we value Diversity and Inclusion, and aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect and realise their full potential.  To further demonstrate our commitment to progressing gender diversity in STEM, we are members of WES & Working Families, and sponsors of International Women in Engineering Day.

Our equal opportunities and diversity monitoring has shown that that women and minority ethnic groups are currently underrepresented within the university and so we actively encourage applications from eligible candidates from these groups.

We actively consider flexible working options such as part-time, compressed or flexible hours and/or an element of homeworking, and commit to exploring the possibilities for each role.  To find out more, please visit https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/working-at-cranfield/diversity

For an informal discussion, please contact Professor Ewan McAdam, Professor of Membrane Science and Technology, via email on (E); e.mcadam@cranfield.ac.uk