"Research Fellow (Ultra-selective Nanofiltration membranes)"

Posting Start Date: 15/01/2026

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). He/she will contribute to a pioneering research program focused on synthesizing ultra-selective polyamide nanofiltration membranes via regulating interfacial polymerization. By integrating membrane fabrication with advanced nanostructure characterization, the project aims to elucidate the fundamental structure-property-performance relationships and provide a solid foundation for the rational design of high-performance polyamide membranes.

He/she is required to perform the followings:

• Lead independent research on designing and synthesizing ultra selective polyamide nanofiltration membranes via interfacial polymerization, specifically targeting precise Li⁺/Mg²⁺ separation with similar sizes, for lithium extraction from realistic high Mg2+/Li+ ratio brines.
• Regulate interfacial polymerization through advanced strategies (e.g., controlled monomer diffusion and reaction kinetics) to tailor the polyamide network structures at the nanometre scale, optimized for Li⁺/Mg²⁺ selectivity.
• Perform systematic characterization of the polyamide selective layer (e.g., TEM, AFM, XPS, and preferably advanced techniques such as PALS) to analyse structural and chemical evolution (e.g., film thickness, crosslinking degree, free volume, pore size distribution) induced by regulated interfacial polymerization.
• Collaborate with computational researchers and use molecular simulation tools (e.g., MD and DFT), combined with experimental data, to elucidate how the regulation strategies govern polyamide network formation.
• Evaluate membrane performance in realistic lithium bearing multi ion brines (e.g., the salt lake with high Mg2+/Li+ ratio) and investigate transport mechanisms of Li+ and Mg2+ in the designed polyamide nanofiltration membranes from multiple perspectives, including size sieving, charge repulsion, and hydration effects.
• Establish correlations between polyamide network structures, membrane properties, and separation performance (especially for Li⁺/Mg²⁺ selectivity), to guide the rational design of ultra selective polyamide nanofiltration membranes.
• Prepare high-quality manuscripts for publication in leading international journals.
• Contribute to the drafting of competitive internal and external research proposals.
• Manage research projects and prepare progress reports.
• Assist in mentoring of Ph.D., master, and undergraduate students in the lab.

Job Requirements

• A PhD degree in a closely relevant field (e.g., Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering).
• Proven hands-on research experience in the fabrication of polyamide nanofiltration membranes by interfacial polymerization, as well as performance evaluation of the prepared membranes.
• Rich research experience in ion separation using nanofiltration in aqueous systems; direct experience in Li⁺/Mg²⁺ separation and/or lithium extraction from the salt lake is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated skills in structural and physicochemical characterization of membranes utilizing several of the following techniques: SEM, TEM, XPS, AFM, zeta potential, PALS, etc.
• Experience in collaborating with computational researchers (MD/DFT) for polyamide membranes or ion transport systems.
• Strong track record of peer reviewed publications as first author in internationally recognized journals in membrane

Apply now