Job Description

Location: Department of Chemistry, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

Job Type: Two Years - Full Time

Collaborative Project:

The Universite de Sherbrooke, in collaboration with Ecofilter Tek, is pioneering the development of a new generation of membranes and ion exchange resins for the food and water filtration industries. These innovative projects are actively advancing applications in the dairy sector for protein filtration and extraction, as well as in environmental sectors for the removal of PFAS and heavy metals from water.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with a strong background in polymer synthesis, particularly in ion exchange resin development, and hands-on experience working with proteins in applied or analytical contexts. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, synthesizing, and characterizing functional polymeric materials and evaluating their performance in selective protein separation processes.

Key Responsibilities:

oDesign, synthesize, and characterize advanced polymers, for example, ion exchange resins and related functional materials.

oDevelop and optimize polymer modification and functionalization strategies.

oConduct experiments involving protein interactions, protein separation, or protein-polymer interfaces.

oPerform structural, thermal, and chemical characterization using NMR, FTIR, SEM, DSC, GPC, zeta potential analyzer, and other analytical tools.

oDocument results, prepare manuscripts, and present findings at internal meetings and scientific conferences.

oCollaborate with team members to support the research, product development, and troubleshooting.

Qualifications:

oPhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

oStrong expertise in polymer synthesis, preferably with experience in ion-exchange resin.

oExperience working with proteins (e.g., protein separation and purification, protein stability, protein-material interactions, etc.).

oFamiliarity with protein adsorption isotherms, zeta potential, or surface chemistry.

oAbility to independently design experiments, analyze data, and communicate scientific results.

oAbility to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Reporting:

The postdoctoral Fellow will email a weekly report in the form of PowerPoint slides. The slides must include acquired data (images, graphs, etc.) and a description of each data presented in the slide. The postdoc will attend weekly group meetings and present research findings weekly bases to all members of the group. While working on the funded research projects, the postdoc Associate may need to travel to present her/his data, visit other universities, company/plant sites, and meet with scientists 4 to 8 times per year, depending on project requirements.

The postdoctoral Fellow opportunity requires an individual that is available to work a non-standard schedule as needed to conduct research and experiments. This is not a typical 9 am-5 pm, Monday through Friday position due to the many active projects that are in process in our research team.

Note: This is a one-year agreement with the possibility of extension based upon satisfactory performance. Also, there is an option to be hired at Ecofilter Tek after finishing this postdoctoral fellow position.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, name and email address of three references, and any relevant publications to yiming.chen@usherbrooke.ca with the subject line "Postdoc Application-[Your Name]."

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00-$55,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person