Research Associate

Location/campus: South Kensington Campus - Hybrid

About the role

The Department of Chemical Engineering is seeking a researcher to undertake work on the development of a biobased solvent extraction system for recovering biological products. The project will be supervised by Professor Jason Hallett in collaboration with Professor Rodigo Ledesma.

What you would be doing

You will carry out research in experimental design, solvent selection and green solvent extractions for lipid and protein products from fermentation systems. You will be responsible for project management and/or to supervise small multi-disciplinary teams. In addition, you will be submit publications to refereed journals and proposals to attract external research funding.

What we are looking for

You will design, synthesize and test novel solvents to enhance the recovery of fermentation products via solvent extraction.

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Working with project partners integrating recovery methods with novel biomanufacturing systems
• Synthesising sustainable solvents (ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents) based on biocompatible and renewable components
• Designing new extraction processes for recovery of bioproducts such as lipids and proteins
• Performing solvent selection to determine options for further testing
• Performing solvent extractions to optimise product yield and purity
• Assessing product yield and purity through molecular analysis (HPLC, NMR)

The successful candidate will have a first degree (or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or a related discipline and a PhD (or equivalent) in the field of sustainable solvents, or related to bioprocessing. You will have knowledge of novel solvents and bioproduct recovery and characterisation.

You will be able to perform experiments in solvent synthesis, solvent extraction, wet chemistry laboratory techniques and all accompanying analytical chemistry techniques, produce clear written reports and presentations and have the ability to collect and manipulate data.

What we can offer you

This role is part of the wider European Union project PROPEL: Protein Production in Fully Sustainable Syncells for Biomaterials Manufacturing and Waste Upcycling. The project also involves Imperial’s Department of Bioengineering (Prof Rodrigo Ledesma) and EU academic and industrial project partners in Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands.

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

The post is available immediately and the appointment is for a maximum of 24 months. The post is based in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London (South Kensington Campus).

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Professor Jason Hallett (j.hallett@imperial.ac.uk).

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• download: Employee Benefits Booklet (1).pdf
• download: Research Associate Imperial Job Description.pdf

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert before the stated closing date, should we receive a high volume of applications. Please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you have any general queries about this vacancy, please contact the hiring manager listed in the ‘Further Information’ section. Alternatively, you can contact the Recruitment Hub at recruitmenthub@imperial.ac.uk, and we will be happy to assist you.

If you experience any technical issues that prevent you from submitting an application, please contact our Technical Support team at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk, who will be able to help resolve the issue.

About Imperial

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Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.  

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.  

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London. 

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination, and creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages.

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