Research Associate/Engineer (Chemical Engineering (Energy & Waste Applications)) Full-time

Research Associate

Established in 2010, the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) is a pan-university research institute that focuses on systems-level research for tropical megacities. It performs translational research that covers the energy value chain from generation to innovative end-use solutions, motivated by industrialisation and deployment. ERI@N has multiple Interdisciplinary Research Programmes which focus on translational Research, Development & Deployment which focus on specific area of the energy value chain, and a number of Living labs and Testbeds which facilitate large scale technology deployment enabling validation and demonstration of real-world applications. For more details, please view NTU.

The Research Associate will lead a project on Waste-to-Resource technologies, with primary responsibility for the design, construction, and commissioning of a pilot-scale thermal waste treatment facility. This role contributes directly to the University's mission of advancing impactful, applied research by developing and demonstrating sustainable waste management solutions that support resource recovery, environmental stewardship, and the transition to a circular economy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead technology screening and evaluation to identify suitable thermal treatment processes (e.g. gasification, pyrolysis, combustion) for diverse solid waste streams, including municipal solid waste.
• Contribute to the end-to-end planning, detailed design, installation, commissioning, and operation of a pilot-scale thermochemical waste treatment facility, including hands-on engineering and troubleshooting.
• Work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PIs to develop and implement risk assessments, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and safety protocols, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations for construction and operation of the pilot facility.
• Investigate and evaluate options for energy recovery and electricity generation from the thermal waste treatment process (e.g. syngas utilization, heat recovery systems, gas engine applications).
• Support the identification, characterization, and evaluation of value-added applications for solid residues generated from thermal treatment processes (e.g. biochar, pyrolysis char, ashes), including potential reuse pathways and performance assessment.

Job Requirements:

Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or closely related field

Relevant hands-on experience (academic, pilot-scale, or industrial) in thermal waste treatment, process engineering, or related fields is an advantage

Familiarity with best practices in waste management and state-of-the art technologies for solid waste treatment

Strong foundation in thermodynamics, including mass and energy balance calculations and process performance analysis

Experience or demonstrated ability in designing, building, commissioning, and testing pilot or demonstration-scale systems

Competence in data and information visualization, including process flow diagrams, technical presentations, and performance reporting

Ability to work independently and develop practical engineering solutions under tight timelines

Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly

Ability to collaborate effectively within an international, multidisciplinary team and across different time zones

Proven ability to build rapport, influence technical and non-technical stakeholders, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment

Hiring Institution: NTU

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and Graduate colleges. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, established jointly with Imperial College London. NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes – the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N). Ranked amongst the world's top universities by QS, NTU has also been named the world's top young university for the past seven years. The University's main campus is frequently listed among the Top 15 most beautiful university campuses in the world and has 57 Green Mark-certified (equivalent to LEED-certified) buildings, of which 95% are certified Green Mark Platinum. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a campus in Novena, Singapore's healthcare district. Under the NTU Smart Campus vision, the University harnesses the power of digital technology and tech-enabled solutions to support better learning and living experiences, the discovery of new knowledge, and the sustainability of resources.