Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Environment, Agrifood and Water
Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Environmental Chemistry
Fixed Term Contract until 31 December 2026
Research Assistant (if close to completing PhD): Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £28,929 to £33,825 per annum, with potential progression up to £39,586 per annum
Research Fellow (if PhD obtained): Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,337 to £39,864 per annum
Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire
We welcome applications from passionate, skilled and committed individuals to join our team working on nature-based solution (NbS) for wastewater treatment.
About the Role
This is a project funded by Sanofi S.A., titled "Nature-based Solutions for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment", through Sanofi’s Planet Care Challenge programme. The successful candidate will design, construct, and validate innovative constructed wetland technologies as a nature-based solution for treating wastewater contaminated with pharmaceutical compounds. The project will assess the removal, transformations, and risks of these chemical micropollutants during the treatment. Additionally, the research will evaluate co-benefits, such as biodiversity enhancement and carbon sequestration, provided by the treatment wetland technologies. The final technology will be deployed at a Sanofi site for real-world wastewater treatment. The candidate will also visit the partner organisation and attend national and international conferences to disseminate research findings.
About You
You will be educated to doctoral level, or near completion, in a relevant subject such as Environmental Engineering or Chemistry. Demonstrated skills in environmental chemistry, particularly in the remediation of chemical micropollutants and the use of advanced analytical instruments (e.g., LC-MS/MS), are essential. These skills will have been acquired through a recognised course and research experience. Your knowledge of pharmaceuticals or other chemical micropollutants and data analysis should be evidenced through publications, reports, or research projects. Experience in water and wastewater treatment, particularly in constructed wetlands or other biological treatment technologies, is desirable. Excellent communication skills are essential, as this role requires collaboration with university staff and coordination of international partnerships with the industrial partner.
About Us
As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.
Cranfield Water and nature-based solutions working group have significant expertise on researching, enhancing and helping to implement nature-based solutions, including constructed wetlands, on the ground. We are keen to act as a link between industry and academia, in matters related to wastewater treatment processes in constructed wetlands.
Our Values and Commitments
Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.
We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.
Working Arrangements
Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.
How to apply
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Tao Lyu, Senior Lecturer in Green Technologies, on (E): t.lyu@cranfield.ac.uk
Apply online now. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on (E): peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 4991.
Closing date for receipt of applications: 15 January 2025
Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
