Research Assistant – Polymer Upcycling (Materials Science)

About the role

The School of Materials Science and Engineering at NTU is seeking a motivated Research Assistant/Associate to develop mechanical and chemical pre‑treatment methods for polymer waste up‑cycling, with a focus on polyurethane. You will work in a multidisciplinary environment, contributing to sustainable materials research and translating lab‑scale findings toward scalable solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement mechanical or chemical polymer pre‑treatment processes for up‑cycling.
• Conduct lab‑scale and pilot‑scale experiments, including sample preparation, operation, and data collection.
• Perform material characterisation and analyse results to optimise processes.
• Prepare technical reports, safety documentation, intellectual‑property filings, and academic publications.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering or related fields.
• At least two years of graduate study or professional experience in polymer science, chemical engineering, or green technologies.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities, good communication skills, and a collaborative mindset.
• Passion for environmental impact mitigation and plastic up‑cycling.

Required skills

• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
• Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)
• Rheology measurements