The Arias Chavez research lab in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tennessee Tech University is currently seeking a graduate student (MS or PhD) for an NSF-funded research project on the use of polymeric membranes for the reclamation of industrial wastewater.
This project would be particularly attractive to prospective grad students who:
• Are passionate about finding new ways to more sustainably manage resources at the water – energy – food nexus
• Want to be part of the larger environmental engineering/science community’s effort to enable society to view and use ‘wastes’ as resources
• Seek hands-on experimental work, which is currently bench-scale (in the lab) and will later transition to pilot-scale
• Would like to support or learn more about the nascent non-food-biomass-based synthetic fuel industry (this project enjoys close collaboration with a local start-up company that produces diesel fuel, jet fuel, and hydrogen from switchgrass and other non-food biomass sources; this company’s technology is designed with both developed and developing countries in mind)
• Enjoy interacting with undergraduates and (occasionally) high school students through collaborative research and community outreach activities, respectively
• Are excited by the interesting and challenging scientific thinking needed to study the transport of real industrial wastewater species through forward osmosis and reverse osmosis membranes
Desired attributes and qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, or any related field.
• Ability to work well with other lab members as well as independently
• Excellent scientific writing and presentation abilities and/or a desire to learn them
• Attention to detail and capacity for big-picture thinking
The following items are helpful but not required:
• Experience with membranes and membrane processes (especially forward osmosis and reverse osmosis)
• Experience with wastewater or industrial waste of any kind
• Experience with characterizing complex environmental water samples, especially those containing hydrocarbons
• Industry / work experience in chemical / environmental engineering or similar areas
Timeline and Selection Process:
• Position will start in the Fall 2020 semester. It may be possible to begin paid work on the research project during the second half of the summer, before classes start.
• Tennessee Tech’s deadline for application has formally been pushed back to May 1 in light of COVID-19-related disruptions across society, but potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Laura Arias Chavez (lchavez@tntech.edu) as soon as possible, as virtual interviews will begin this week.
• Please send a resume / CV and unofficial transcript when contacting Dr. Arias Chavez with questions or interest. Requirements for standardized test taking are being suspended during this time of virus disruption. Students who have already taken standardized tests are encouraged to submit scores.
Job Type GraduateJob Rank PhD StudentJob Institution University of South AlabamaJob Description:The Chemical and Bio-molecular Engineering Program at the University […]
Dear Students, I hope your spring term is off to a good start. I’m writing because I have funding […]
Applications are now being accepted for the Summer REU Program in Marine Science at the University of Delaware, an NSF-Funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Interns will work with faculty in a research-intensive setting on a research topic in chemical, physical, or biological oceanography, marine biology or marine geology. In addition to hands- on research experience, student support includes a $6,700 stipend, campus housing, and travel assistance. The deadline to apply is February 10, 2023. Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences, this REU program supports ten undergraduate students to conduct research in marine science. The program will take place at the University of Delaware's Hugh R. Sharp campus in the beach community of Lewes, located on the shores of the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. More information and the application can be found on our website. You may also be interested to hear directly from former interns, or see one of our field trips on the R/V Daiber on the Delaware Bay. […]