Universidad Internacional de Valencia

POSTDOC POSITION IN ADVANCED COATING OF LFP MATERIALS – IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, CANADA We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to explore advanced coating techniques for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) materials. This role focuses on developing cutting-edge solutions to enhance the performance of LFP batteries, with a particular emphasis on advanced material coating strategies. The project addresses the growing need to improve the surface properties and stability of LFP materials, especially under high-performance applications. Traditional methods for coating and stabilizing LFP cathodes often face limitations in durability and electrochemical efficiency. This research aims to overcome these challenges by applying innovative coating techniques using polymer- and nanomaterial-based coatings. These advanced coatings will enhance not only the chemical and thermal stability of the LFP materials but also improve their electrochemical performance, surface area, and selective permeability. The successful candidate will investigate methods to coating active materials, such as nanostructured coatings, to protect the LFP particles while optimizing their performance in high-energy-density applications. The coated LFP materials should exhibit superior mechanical and chemical resilience, ensuring that the coatings maintain their structural integrity during industrial-scale operations. Key research areas include: Developing novel polymer- or nanomaterial-based shells to coat the LFP particles Enhancing the surface properties of the coatings to selectively permit ion diffusion, increasing the electrochemical performance while reducing unwanted reactions. Ensuring that the coated LFP materials remain stable under high-voltage and cycling conditions typical in energy storage applications. Focusing on scaling these advanced materials for industrial applications, from traditional battery technologies to more innovative energy storage systems. This position will contribute to the next generation of LFP-based batteries, improving their safety, efficiency, and overall performance for sustainable energy storage solutions. Job Description: The successful candidate will carry out duties to the highest standard and will: Undertake original research of international excellence. Develop research objectives and proposals for own and/or collaborative research projects. Publish papers in leading journals and present research findings at national/international conferences, workshops, and meetings to effectively disseminate the results and contribute to successful research outputs. Communicate the development, progress and results of research activities to the team, Communicate the development, progress and results of research activities to the team to ensure that relevant information and issues in the implementation of projects/experiments are captured in as comprehensive and timely manner as possible. Establish collaborative links with the core scientific personnel in related program areas to gain exposure to and build knowledge on experimental/research activities and approaches, in order to improve conceptual development and industrial implementation. Identify areas of improvement within the research structure using integrated management approaches in pursuit of capacity building/strengthening and the preservation of scientific rigor in research studies. Support if required, the development of proposals for research funding. Candidate PROFILE: PhD in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or related subject. Expertise in electrochemistry, polymer chemistry, and materials synthesis. Proficient in the materials (polymers and nanomaterials) characterization. Solid knowledge and experience in polymer coating and LFP or other battery electrode materials. Hands-on experience in battery fabrication and characterization. Familiarity with energy storage technologies is preferred. Associated Skills: Experience working on a project combining organic materials synthesis, purifications, and their characterization. Proven past experiences on the preparation and characterization of polymers and electrochemistry. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team. Proven ability of working with projects partners to reach their objectives timely. Excellent networking ability and organizational skills. Proven and distinct work experiences in academia and/or industries and/or abroad are highly requested. Ability to generate new ideas, links, and builds upon existing ones to generate unique concepts and solutions. Experience in co-supervision and coordination of masters and PhD level students. Excellent communication in both English and French languages. Good publication track record in peer-reviewed journals with respect of the career development. Willingness to work on an international team and travel between Morocco and Canada. Team Members: UM6P – Dr. Mouad Dahbi – Dr. Mohamed Aqil University Of Waterloo (Waterloo) – Dr. Yuning Li (Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology). Program Details: UM6P will be the administrative body for the program, where candidates will apply to the UM6P Postdoctoral Program and will be formally employed as a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) by UM6P.  Candidates will be paid through the UM6P administration for the entire length of the program. The salary is $2,000 USD/month (approximately $2,700 CAD per month), as guaranteed by UM6P for the entirety of the program. Waterloo co-supervisors may offer additional funding support to the candidates for their residency at Waterloo. The amount and duration of additional funding will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The program duration will normally be three years; during this time the residency will be split between the UM6P and Waterloo campuses. Candidates will spend a total residency of one year and half (1.5) years at Waterloo and a total residency of one year and half (1.5) year at UM6P. The details and schedule will be determined upon mutual agreement by the candidates and their respective UM6P and Waterloo co-supervisors. 

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is an institution dedicated to research and innovation in Africa and aims to position itself among world-renowned universities in its fields The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. A mechanism that enables it to consolidate Morocco's frontline position in these fields, in a unique partnership-based approach and boosting skills training relevant for the future of Africa. Located in the municipality of Benguerir, in the very heart of the Green City, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University aspires to leave its mark nationally, continentally, and globally. About ACER CoE: The centre has been recently created to address enduring process challenges in Chemistry and Engineering disciplines and create an environment for interdisciplinary research. The research program of ACER is multidisciplinary, with faculty members from backgrounds in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Environmental Engineering focusing on different research fields such as catalysis, separation, energy generation, conversion and storage, and organic optoelectronics intelligent and advanced polymers and materials. Job description: The successful candidate will: Conduct original and high-quality research in adsorption-based separation and/or membrane technology. Develop novel adsorbents and/or membranes for gas or liquid storage and separation applications. Characterize adsorption and transport properties using advanced analytical techniques. Prepare high-impact research papers for publication in leading peer-reviewed journals and present findings at international conferences, workshops, and meetings. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and engage in knowledge exchange with industry and academic partners. Contribute to the preparation of research proposals for external funding. Support the supervision of graduate students and assist in guiding their research projects. Assist in the development of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and modules. Facilitate the acquisition of necessary laboratory equipment and interact with international suppliers when required. Candidate Profile: The ideal candidate should have a strong background in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field with expertise in adsorption and/or membrane-based separation technologies. The following qualifications and skills are expected: PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field. Expertise in adsorption or membrane-based separation technologies (e.g., gas separation, water treatment, or CO₂ capture). Strong knowledge of adsorption isotherm models, mass transport mechanisms, and surface chemistry. Experience in synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of adsorbents or membranes. Proficiency in advanced characterization techniques, such as BET, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, ICP, and gas sorption analysis. Good understanding of process design for adsorption or membrane-based separation. Strong track record of publications in reputable peer-reviewed journals. Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English. Ability to work independently as well as in a multidisciplinary research team. Prior experience in student supervision and research coordination is a plus.  Candidature Submission: Applicants should submit the following documents: Cover letter outlining research experience, achievements, and future research interests. Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing academic and research experience. List of publications in peer-reviewed journals. Contact information of three referees (who are not current UM6P faculty). Recommendation letters (if available).

POST DOC POSITION IN ENCAPSULATION OF ACTIVE MATERIALS FOR CARBON CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION – JOINTLY WITH UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, CANADA 12716 We are looking for a motivated PDRA candidate to investigate the encapsulation of active materials (liquids or solids) for developing innovative CO2 Capture and Utilization (CCU) processes. This position is motivated by the fact that many attractive options for CCU solvents suffer from their high viscosity, limiting thus the absorption kinetics. While benchmark alkanolamine-based aqueous liquids suffer from potential environmental impacts from solvent release. Encapsulating absorbents within polymer- and/or nanomaterial-based shells represents a promising solution. The successful candidate should elaborate novel solutions to encapsulate innovative solvents (e.g., Deep Eutectic Solvents, Ionic Liquids, Porous Liquids or bio-based solid materials) to enhance not only the chemical and thermal stability of the polymer shell and the filled beads but also the surface area of the functional shell. A particular attention will be also placed on the surface properties to tune the selectively of the shell to allow the permeation to specific gases, like the CO2, while prevent permeation of other species, like H2O. By following this strategy, encapsulated solvents (sorbents) should keep their own performance by taking advantage of the high surface area of the shell. The proposed beads should be both chemically and mechanically stable under typical industrial conditions moving from post-combustion process to direct air capture (DAC) technology. However, there will be a particular focus on DAC. Job Description : The successful candidate will carry out duties to the highest standard and will: Undertake original research of international excellence. Develop research objectives and proposals for own and/or collaborative research projects. Publish papers in leading journals and present research findings at national/international conferences, workshops, and meetings to effectively disseminate the results and contribute to successful research outputs. Communicate the development, progress and results of research activities to the team, Communicate the development, progress and results of research activities to the team to ensure that relevant information and issues in the implementation of projects/experiments are captured in as comprehensive and timely manner as possible.. Establish collaborative links with the core scientific personnel in related program areas to gain exposure to and build knowledge on experimental/research activities and approaches, in order to improve conceptual development and industrial implementation. Identify areas of improvement within the research structure using integrated management approaches in pursuit of capacity building/strengthening and the preservation of scientific rigor in research studies. Support if required, the development of proposals for research funding. Candidate PROFILE : A PhD in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Science, or related subject. Expert in the interfacial phenomena and encapsulation of materials in solid or liquid state. Expert in the materials (polymers and nanomaterials) synthesis and characterization. Good knowledge in Thermodynamics and Fluid Phase Equilibrium are also requested. Knowledge about carbon capture technologies will be preferred  Associated Skills : Experience working on a project combining organic materials synthesis, purifications, and their characterization. Proven past experiences on the preparation and characterization of polymers and encapsulated materials. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team. Proven ability of working with projects partners to reach their objectives timely. Excellent networking ability and organizational skills. Proven and distinct work experiences in academia and/or industries and/or abroad are highly requested. Ability to generate new ideas, links, and builds upon existing ones to generate unique concepts and solutions. Experience in co-supervision and coordination of masters and PhD level students. Excellent communication in both English and French languages.  Good publication track record in peer-reviewed journals with respect of the career development. Willingness to work on an international team and travel between Morocco and Canada. Team Members : UM6P – Dr. Johan Jacquemin University Of Waterloo (Waterloo) – Dr. Sushanta Mitra (Mechanical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology), Dr. Milad Kamkar (Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology), Dr. XiaoYu Wu (Mechanical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology) Program Details: UM6P will be the administrative body for the program, where candidates will apply to the UM6P Postdoctoral Program and will be formally employed as a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) by UM6P.  Candidates will be paid through the UM6P administration for the entire length of the program.  The salary is $2,000 USD/month (approximately $2,700 CAD per month), as guaranteed by UM6P for the entirety of the program. Waterloo co-supervisors may offer additional funding support to the candidates for their residency at Waterloo. The amount and duration of additional funding will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The program duration will normally be three years; during this time the residency will be split between the UM6P and Waterloo campuses. Candidates will spend a maximum total residency of two (2) years at Waterloo and a minimum total residency of one (1) year at UM6P. The details and schedule will be determined upon mutual agreement by the candidates and their respective UM6P and Waterloo co-supervisors.