Development and Optimization of Separation Processes for Water Treatment and Resource Recovery

About the role

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to develop and optimise separation processes for water treatment and resource recovery. The work will focus on membrane technologies, liquid‑liquid extraction and resin‑based methods to treat industrial effluents and enable water reuse.

Key responsibilities

• Design, develop and optimise separation processes for water and industrial effluent treatment.
• Investigate membrane processes, liquid‑liquid extraction, ion‑exchange resins, adsorption and other separation technologies.
• Select appropriate materials, membranes, resins and solvents for targeted impurities.
• Plan and conduct laboratory‑scale and pilot‑scale experiments, optimise operating parameters and evaluate selectivity and efficiency.
• Characterise feed streams and product streams, assess performance, stability, regeneration and reusability of separation media.
• Propose hybrid configurations that combine multiple separation steps.
• Contribute to process design, equipment sizing, scale‑up studies and prepare technical reports, scientific publications and conference presentations.
• Supervise students and support the broader research team.

Required profile

• PhD in Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of unit operations and separation processes.
• Experience with at least one of the following: membrane technologies, liquid‑liquid extraction, ion‑exchange or adsorbent resins, adsorption, precipitation or crystallisation.
• Background in water treatment, desalination or industrial effluent treatment is an asset.
• Excellent analytical abilities, scientific writing skills in English and French and the capacity to work independently and in a team.

Required skills

• Membrane processes (reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, electrodialysis).
• Liquid‑liquid extraction.
• Ion‑exchange and adsorbent resin technologies.
• Adsorption, precipitation and crystallisation techniques.
• Unit operations and separation process engineering.