Postdoctoral Position, Mineral Resource Recovery - Chemical Engineering Department

We are seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position, with an anticipated start date as early as September 2025 and no later than December 2025. The position has a total intended duration of two years, structured as one-year renewable contracts.

The successful candidate will join the Soft Matter Engineering Group, led by Dr. Xiaohui Xu in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Rowan University. Their research will build on prior work developing the fundamentals of hydrogel composite systems for mineral extraction and water recovery.

The work is primarily experimental and includes everything from hydrogel material design and synthesis to evaluating mineral recovery using natural sunlight. The project is supported by the ACS Early Career Postdoctoral (ECP) Faculty Bridge Grant.

The successful candidate will receive full support for salary, benefits, and visa sponsorship for the duration of their contract. They will also have the opportunity to mentor a team of junior scientists at the undergraduate and PhD level, attend multiple conferences and networking events, and receive regular feedback from collaborators. The primary place of research will be the Soft Matter Engineering labs on Rowan Universitys campus in Glassboro, New Jersey.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a related field.
• Prior research experience (ideally from PhD) in water purification, membrane filtration, hydrogel materials, or a closely related area.
• Prior experience and/or strong motivation for mentoring junior scientists.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with demonstrated interest in research communication beyond basic degree requirements. This could include writing beyond coursework, conference posters/presentations, seminars, teaching experience, or attendance in communication courses.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience with gel synthesis or resource recovery.
• Expertise with HPLC, XRD, DSC, TGA, SEM.

Salary & Benefits:

• In compliance with The State of New Jersey's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is AFT: Range 24 ($73,899 to $118,221), with placement within the range determined by candidate's qualifications, professional experience, internal equity, and other factors.

• For internal applicants, salary is determined per the Pay Adjustment formula (NJAC 4A:3-4.9 & 4.10).

• For eligible employees, benefits include: comprehensive NJ State health, dental and retirement benefits, extensive accrued time off/paid holidays, and tuition reimbursement for employee, spouse, and dependents to attend Rowan University, Glassboro. (Tuition reimbursement will apply to undergraduate degrees only for spouse and dependents).
• For more detailed information, please visit:

How to Apply:
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received before August 30, 2025 .

To apply, please upload the following:

• Cover letter expressing your interest in the position.
• CV, including a list of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• List of three professional references, including (1) names, (2) contact information, (3) professional relationship, and (4) duration of that professional relationship.

Note:

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US, and the university will not sponsor an applicant for a work visa for this position.