Research Fellow – Sustainable Growing Media (Materials Science)

About the role

The School of Materials Science and Engineering at NTU seeks a Research Fellow to lead the development of sustainable growing media for urban farming. The role involves designing, fabricating, and characterising novel porous materials that can deliver nutrients in both soil‑based and hydroponic systems.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews and provide regular updates.
• Synthesize, functionalise and characterise porous materials using techniques such as SEM, XRD, DLS, FTIR, TGA/DSC, MTS and ICP‑MS.
• Perform degradation and nutrient‑release assays to understand kinetics.
• Correlate material properties with plant growth performance, including seed germination, seedling development, crop yields and nutritional profiles.
• Develop scale‑up strategies and collaborate with farms and industry partners for large‑scale trials.
• Supervise junior researchers, undergraduate and graduate students.
• Manage laboratory inventory, logistical issues and generate progress reports for the funding agency.
• Prepare reports and manuscripts for publication.

Required profile

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Biomaterials or a related discipline.
• Strong research track record demonstrated by publications, grant applications or patents.
• Experience with biomaterials, biomass recycling, functionalisation and characterisation.
• Familiarity with agriculture research and porous material systems such as hydrogels or aerogels is preferred.
• Excellent communication, writing and project‑management skills.

Required skills

• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
• X‑Ray Diffraction (XRD)
• Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
• Fourier‑Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
• Thermogravimetric Analysis / Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TGA/DSC)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP‑MS)
• Material synthesis and functionalisation techniques