Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Advanced Materials for Sustainability

Position Overview

Professor Choy is conducting innovative and cutting-edge world class research on sustainable materials and process development to address global challenges in energy, environment, health & wellbeing areas for a better world.

You are invited to apply for one of the Postdoctoral Research Fellow posts at Duke Kunshan University to be part of the growing team and to participate in setting up innovative and cutting-edge world leading sustainable materials research environment and knowledge transfer platform. The postholder will undertake fundamental, applied and translational research in areas of sustainable materials and process development that will lead to reduced energy consumption/carbon footprint/waste/ environmental impact and improved product recyclability/reuse/recovery/ repair. This includes:

• Development of novel, eco-friendly and cost-effective materials synthesis, materials processing and manufacturing.
• Design & develop new “clean and sustainable materials”, devices/system for clean energy production/ storage, and biosensors/biocompatible implants applications.
• Development of smart & durable materials, devices or systems (with integrated structural health monitoring), and self-sensing for engineering applications.
• Modelling, design and development of sustainable, durable and smart multifunctional materials, devices or systems for a range of applications, including but not limited to clean energy production, energy storage, biosensors, bioimplants, and structural monitoring in engineering industries.

Reports to

Prof. Kwang Leong Choy, Professor of Materials Science

Essential Duties

• Conduct research and development of nanoscale multifunctional thin films and coatings for clean energy generation and storage, engineering, transport, optoelectronics and healthcare applications, especially with respect to materials design and discovery, chemical precursor formulation, deposition, characterization and optimization of materials, device fabrication and performance evaluation.
• Perform relevant literature survey, equipment design and integration, cost and life cycle analysis of the process and equipment scale up.
• To undertake the development of non-vacuum chemical-based deposition of durable, robust and high performance superthin/thin/thick films, multilayer films, and nanocomposite coatings as well as to evaluate their performance.
• To complete safety and risk assessments of experimental work in relation to material synthesis, handling of chemical precursor and nanomaterials and process scale up.
• Responsible for ensuring that equipment is safe and maintained in working order as well as observation of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations.
• To support research grant preparation and applications.
• To support the coordination and management of research projects.
• Procure and liaise with external materials and equipment suppliers.
• Record progress in a laboratory book, analyses and write up the experimental results.
• Ensure all tasks and project deliverables are submitted in a timely manner.
• Prepare technical reports and high-quality scientific papers to refereed journals.
• Prepare progress reports and presentations on funded research to funding bodies, project partners/collaborators and wider scientific community as required.
• Communicate key results and impacts of research to wider stakeholders with non-technical backgrounds for promotion and outreach activities.
• Contribute to the induction, training and direction of other research staff and students as requested, especially the supervision of laboratory work and/or projects undertaken by undergraduate and graduate students.
• Work toward achieving assigned annual objectives and KPIs, demonstrating accountability for performance and results.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• University employees' job responsibilities will continue to expand in scope and depth as the University grows in size and complexity in its programs.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science/Engineering and related disciplines, such as Materials Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanoscience & Technology or relevant postgraduate degree disciplines.
• Experience in sustainable materials and process development.
• Experience in materials design, processing, nanostructured films and nanocomposite coatings deposition via non vacuum chemical routes and printing, and materials characterization.
• Experience in device fabrication and characterization.
• Experience in application evaluations of nanoscale functional materials for energy, engineering, transport, optoelectronics, healthcare and/or biomedical applications.
• Experience in the field of materials science/engineering field with simulation and/or experimental perspectives are highly desired.
• Experience in providing solutions to materials problems.
• Excellent fresh PhD graduates will be considered, with 1-2 working experiences is preferred.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong organizational skills and project management.
• Ability to work collaboratively across geographically separate research teams.
• Proven research skills and ability to publish research in high quality peer reviewed journals.
• Proven ability in materials design, thin/thick film processing and characterization, device fabrication and testing of functional materials.
• Ability in operating materials processing and thin film chemical-based deposition equipment (e.g., sol-gel, chemical vapour deposition, aerosol chemical deposition, electrospray deposition) and printing.
• Ability to operate XRD, SEM-EDX/WDX, Raman, AFM, stylus profilometer, UV-Vis, FTIR, DSC/DTA/TGA, optical, electrical and mechanical properties testing equipment.
• Proven ability in equipment development, design modification and integration.
• Commitment to high quality independent and collaborative research.

Education

PhD in Materials Science/Engineering and related disciplines, such as Materials Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanoscience & Technology or relevant postgraduate degree disciplines. 

Years of Related Working Experience

Excellent fresh PhD graduates will be considered, with 1-2 working experiences is preferred.