Research Associate, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering

Position Overview

The Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering in Schulich School of Engineering invites applications for a Research Associate. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 6 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

This position will report to the Principal Investigator (PI), the research associate in Active and Passive Colloids Research Group (APCs) is responsible for conducting research in asphaltene removal in water in oil emulsions via application of electric fields. The research associate will conduct daily operation independently and standard trouble-shooting when necessary in a typical chemical engineering laboratory environment. The qualified candidate should demonstrate strong communication, analytical, and organization skills and can work collaboratively. The research associate has the freedom to determine his/her own work schedule as long as the important deadline can be met. The chosen research associate will also provide direction, or training to other undergraduate or graduate students in the group. Moreover, the research associate will develop standard operation protocol and provide routine maintenance to the analytical instruments located in the PI lab.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Under general supervision & direction of the PIs, help carry out experimental design and tests
• Answer queries generated by sponsors, meeting imposed deadlines
• Dialogues with the Principle Investigators and research team regarding results and research progression
• Organizes Laboratories supplies and infrastructure usage
• Strong knowledge of the assigned research study and its objectives
• Prepares and maintains an inventory list of study documents
• Understands and adheres to confidentiality of all personal information, as per privacy codes
• Prepares, organizes and completes research study charts and regular presentations/reports for the principal investigators
• Communicates with external facilities, including other universities, labs and industries.
• Establishes and maintains educational standards within the ever changing nature of emulsion research

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Doctoral Degree and more than one year Postdoctoral or R&D experience in the field of Chemical, Mechanical Engineering or Chemistry.
• 3-5 years experience in a related field
• Experience with oil and water emulsions stabilized by asphaltene and their characterization
• Experience with interfacial rheology, optical and fluorescence microscopy and bulk rheology. Moreover, experience in electro-coagulation technique (application of AC/DC electric fields to emulsions) would be considered a major benefit.
• Must be open to learning and development, and be willing to accept new challenges and assignments
• Demonstrated strong communication, teamwork, and an ability to exercise judgment within established guidelines
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and Engineering softwares (MatLab, ImageJ, etc.)
• A positive attitude and the ability to work independently and as part of a team are critical to success
• Must be open to learning and development, and be willing to accept new challenges and assignments.

Application Deadline:  July 26, 2020

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase II.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website . For more information about the Schulich School of Engineering visit Careers in the Schulich School of Engineering.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their professional success while they are here. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.