Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Scientist – Polymer Rheology and Processing

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST); Thuwal; On-site; SAR 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive tax-free compensation

Furnished housing

Health insurance

Relocation support

Job summary

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist to lead investigations in advanced polymer rheology and processing in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. The role covers structure–rheology–processability relationships and industrially funded initiatives.

You will design rheology experiments, establish correlations, optimize processing technologies, and collaborate with industrial partners while mentoring PhD students and

Qualifications

• PhD in polymer science, polymer engineering, materials science, or related field.
• Demonstrated competency in experimental and/or computational polymer rheology.
• Hands-on practical experience with polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, or fiber spinning).
• Excellent English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct rheological experiments on bulk and interfacial polymer systems.
• Establish processing-structure-property correlations for multi-phase and multilayer polymer systems.
• Optimize advanced polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, fiber spinning).
• Collaborate with industrial partners and communicate results to non-academic stakeholders.
• Contribute to intellectual property development and patent generation.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Mentor junior team members (PhD students, research engineers).

Skills

Polymer rheology

Experimental methods

Computational modelling

Polymer processing

English communication

Education

PhD in polymer science/related

Tools

Rheology instrumentation

Finite element analysis

Molecular simulations

Job description

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia's premier research institution on the Red Sea coast in Thuwal, seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist to lead investigations in advanced polymer rheology and processing.

This role is part of industrially funded initiatives focused on structure-rheology-processability relationships and advanced polymer manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct rheological experiments on bulk and interfacial polymer systems
• Establish processing-structure-property correlations for multi-phase and multilayer polymer systems
• Optimize advanced polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, fiber spinning)
• Collaborate directly with industrial partners and communicate results to non-academic stakeholders
• Contribute to intellectual property development and patent generation
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals
• Mentor junior team members (PhD students, research engineers)

Required Qualifications

• PhD in polymer science, polymer engineering, materials science, or related field
• Demonstrated competency in experimental and/or computational polymer rheologyStrong foundation in polymer physics and viscoelastic behavior
• Hands-on practical experience with polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, or fiber spinning)
• Excellent English communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in interfacial rheology with multiphase polymer systems
• Experience with multilayer co-extrusion, thermal fiber drawing, or thin-film manufacturing
• Industrial thermoplastics background
• Computational modelling experience (finite element or molecular simulations)
• Prior involvement in industrially funded research projects

Benefits

• Competitive tax-free compensation, furnished housing, health insurance, and relocation support.

Application Deadline: 17 November 2026