Research Fellow – School of Chemical Engineering – 107192- Grade 7 Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Research Associate

The University of Birmingham is a world-class research-led institution. This project is based across the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy & Materials. Together, we offer a supportive working environment, outstanding facilities, and key opportunities for professional development across this two-year project.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support the University of Birmingham's contribution to the Horizon Europe funded project ECOFUNC, which strives to develop sustainable construction materials and circular end-of-life solutions. This role will support research aimed at creating an environmentally benign recycling pathway for PHA-based construction panels, a new class of biodegradable composite materials developed within the project. While these materials are designed to biodegrade, true circularity requires recovering their chemical value rather than allowing them to enter a linear waste pathway.

This project builds on recent laboratory breakthroughs demonstrating rapid hydrolysis of PHA materials under mild conditions and aims to translate these findings into an industrially relevant recycling process. The work will investigate the relationship between feedstock format, reaction conditions, and product yield through systematic experimentation and kinetic analysis. Harnessing this experimental data, the PDRA will also develop a concept design for a commercial recycling facility using process modelling tools to support environmental and techno-economic assessments carried out in other ECOFUNC work packages.

Role Summary:

• Work within specified research grants and projects (ECOFUNC: Eco-Friendly Circular and Functional Building Materials for Sustainable Construction) and contribute to writing further bids
• Operate within the area of specialism. This will involve developing and scaling a low-temperature chemical depolymerisation process capable of converting PHA polymers back into valuable monomers such as 3-hydroxybutyric acid.
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results, and communicate these through conference presentations, publications in high-impact journals, and at project meetings.
• Contribute to generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties:

• Design and conduct laboratory experiments to investigate the chemical depolymerisation of PHA-based construction panels, including reaction optimisation and catalyst screening, whilst maintaining high levels of lab safety.
• Develop and implement design of experiments (DoE) methodologies to evaluate the effects of process variables such as temperature, reaction time, polymer loading, catalyst concentration, and mixing conditions.
• Perform polymer and product characterisation using analytical techniques such as DSC, TGA, SEM, FTIR, GC–MS and HPLC to quantify depolymerisation performance and product purity.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods e.g. process models and conceptual designs for a commercial recycling facility using process simulation tools.
• Contribute to life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA) activities in collaboration with project partners.
• Analyse and interpret data from the above research activities. This may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews.
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars, etc., and actively contribute to project meetings with academic and industrial partners across the ECOFUNC consortium. This will include occasional travel to visit partners across Europe.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at conferences and as posters.
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with the assistance of a mentor if required. This will include contributions to writing bids for research funding.
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Undertake management/administration arising from research.
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader.
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification:

• First degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related discipline and normally, a higher degree (such as holding or near to completion) relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
• High level analytical capability with demonstrable experience in experimental chemical or process engineering research, particularly involving polymers, chemical recycling, reaction engineering, or related areas
• Experience designing and safely conducting laboratory experiments, including the use of statistical approaches such as Design of Experiments (DoE)
• Practical experience with analytical techniques relevant to polymer or chemical process research
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively, including the planning and management of independent research activities
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Able to contribute to the planning and organising of ECOFUNC
• Ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure that in day-to-day activities in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly