Research Fellow (Electrified Membrane for Resource Recovery)

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research university in Singapore invites applications for a Research Fellow position focused on Advanced Membrane Science. The successful candidate will design and develop electrified membrane materials for innovative water treatment solutions, contributing to significant research aimed at enhancing separation technologies. Candidates should have a PhD in relevant fields and a strong research portfolio with experience in membrane technology. Effective communication and project management skills are crucial for this role.

Qualifications

• Possess a PhD in a relevant field.
• Strong publication record in membrane science.
• Hands-on expertise in membrane research.

Responsibilities

• Lead research on electrified membrane materials.
• Establish experimental protocols for membrane separation.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in journals.

Skills

Research track record

Hands-on experimental expertise

Data interpretation skills

Excellent communication

Project management

Education

PhD in Environmental Engineering

Tools

Electrochemical diagnostics

Membrane fabrication tools

Characterization instruments

Job description

Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS Career Portal.

Your application will be processed only if you apply via the NUS Career Portal.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

National University of Singapore (NUS) invites applications for a Research Fellow position in Advanced Membrane Science and Engineering for Sustainable Environmental Applications. The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Professor Chuyang TANG, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE).

The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary research program centered on electrified (electrically responsive) membrane systems for next-generation water treatment and resource recovery. By integrating membrane materials engineering with advanced characterization and mechanistic analysis, the project aims to elucidate structure–property–performance relationships under applied electric fields and to establish rational design principles for high-selectivity, high-stability membrane platforms. The research will bridge fundamental interfacial science with practical module development for challenging separations relevant to desalination, emerging contaminant control, and resource recovery from complex waters.

He/she is required to perform the followings:

Responsibilities

• Lead independent research on the design and development of electrified membrane materials and interfaces, including electrically tuneable/charged/selective layers and electrochemically regulated transport pathways.
• Establish and optimize experimental protocols to couple membrane separation with electrochemical control, enabling enhanced selectivity, anti-fouling performance, and stable long-term operation in realistic water matrices.
• Conduct systematic membrane and interface characterization, and apply advanced tools as needed to uncover nanoscale structure and formation/operation mechanisms.
• Elucidate coupled mechanisms governing electrified membrane performance, including size exclusion, electrostatic interactions, hydration phenomena, interfacial reaction kinetics, and field-driven transport.
• Evaluate membrane performance across diverse application scenarios in water treatment and resource recovery and translate findings into materials- and mechanism-informed strategies to mitigate permeability–selectivity trade-offs and fouling.
• Develop and validate practical membrane prototypes and modules, including experimental design for performance benchmarking, durability assessment, and process integration.
• Prepare high-quality manuscripts for publication in leading international journals and present research outcomes at major conferences in membrane science, materials science, and environmental engineering.
• Support the research group in broader research activities, including developing competitive research proposals and reports, coordinating collaborative projects, mentoring junior researchers/students, and contributing to laboratory operations to ensure a safe and productive research environment.

Job Requirements

• Possess a PhD degree in a relevant field (e.g., Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, or closely related disciplines).
• Strong research track record, evidenced by high-quality peer-reviewed publications in membrane science/engineering, electrochemical separations, and water treatment/resource recovery.
• Hands-on experimental expertise in membrane-related research, such as membrane material synthesis/fabrication, physicochemical characterization, and separation performance evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute experiments that integrate membrane transport with electrical/electrochemical modulation, including rigorous control of operating conditions and reproducible performance benchmarking.
• Proficiency in relevant characterization and electrochemical/transport diagnostics, with strong quantitative data interpretation skills.
• Experience in evaluating membrane performance under realistic water matrices, including selectivity, stability, durability, and fouling/anti-fouling behaviour, and ability to translate observations into mechanism-informed design strategies.
• Proven ability to independently drive research projects, manage timelines and deliverables, and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience in preparing manuscripts, technical reports, and (ideally) contributing to research proposal development (fellowships/internal/external grants).
• Willingness to support mentoring of junior researchers/students and contribute to a safe, efficient laboratory environment.
• Open to fixed-term contract.