Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Environmental Chemistry

Organisation/Company: Cranfield University

Department: HR & Development Group

Research Field: Chemistry, Environmental Science

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1), Recognised Researcher (R2)

Positions: Master Positions

Country: United Kingdom

Application Deadline: 15 Jan 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/London)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 37

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Reference Number: 4991

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Environment, Agrifood and Water

Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Environmental Chemistry

Research Assistant (if close to completing PhD): Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £28,929 to £33,825 per annum, with potential progression up to £39,586 per annum

Research Fellow (if PhD obtained): Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,337 to £39,864 per annum

Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire

We welcome applications from passionate, skilled and committed individuals to join our team working on nature-based solutions (NbS) for wastewater treatment.

About the Role

This is a project funded by Sanofi S.A., titled "Nature-based Solutions for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment", through Sanofi’s Planet Care Challenge programme. The successful candidate will design, construct, and validate innovative constructed wetland technologies as a nature-based solution for treating wastewater contaminated with pharmaceutical compounds. The project will assess the removal, transformations, and risks of these chemical micropollutants during the treatment. Additionally, the research will evaluate co-benefits, such as biodiversity enhancement and carbon sequestration, provided by the treatment wetland technologies. The final technology will be deployed at a Sanofi site for real-world wastewater treatment. The candidate will also visit the partner organisation and attend national and international conferences to disseminate research findings.

About You

You will be educated to doctoral level, or near completion, in a relevant subject such as Environmental Engineering or Chemistry. Demonstrated skills in environmental chemistry, particularly in the remediation of chemical micropollutants and the use of advanced analytical instruments (e.g., LC-MS/MS), are essential. These skills will have been acquired through a recognised course and research experience. Your knowledge of pharmaceuticals or other chemical micropollutants and data analysis should be evidenced through publications, reports, or research projects. Experience in water and wastewater treatment, particularly in constructed wetlands or other biological treatment technologies, is desirable. Excellent communication skills are essential, as this role requires collaboration with university staff and coordination of international partnerships with the industrial partner.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact.

Cranfield Water and nature-based solutions working group have significant expertise in researching, enhancing and helping to implement nature-based solutions, including constructed wetlands, on the ground. We are keen to act as a link between industry and academia, in matters related to wastewater treatment processes in constructed wetlands.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to Apply

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr. Tao Lyu, Senior Lecturer in Green Technologies, on (E): t.lyu@cranfield.ac.uk

Closing date for receipt of applications: 15 January 2025

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.