CBS - Post-Doctoral Fellow Positions in Recycling Plastic Waste

About UM6P:

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is an internationally oriented institution of higher learning, that is committed to an educational system based on the highest standards of teaching and research in fields related to the sustainable economic development of Morocco and Africa. UM6P is an institution oriented towards applied research and innovation. On a specific focus on Africa, UM6P aims to position these fields as the forefront and become a university of international standing.   

More than just a traditional academic institution, UM6P is a platform for experimentation and a pool of opportunities, for students, professors and staff. It offers a high-quality living and study environment thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure. With an innovative approach, UM6P places research and innovation at the heart of its educational project as a driving force of a business model.

In its research approach, the UM6P promotes transdisciplinary, entrepreneurship spirit and collaboration with external institutions for developing up to date science and at continent level in order to address real challenges.

All our programs run as start-ups and can be self-organized when they reach a critical mass. Thus, academic liberty is promoted as far as funding is developed by research teams.

The research programs are integrated from long-term research to short-term applications in linkage with incubation and start-up ecosystems.

About SUSMAT :

The Sustainable Materials Research Center (SusMat - RC) is a multidisciplinary research center engaged in the development of advanced biobased products and materials thereof using biotechnological, physical and chemical conversion strategies and engineering processes (b) understanding and controlling their underlying specific functionalities and the structure-properties relationship acting over multiple length scales from the molecular, nano to the macro level and their cross-interactions and (c) utilizing the gathered knowledge and the invented materials to address key technological challenges in Morocco and African continent and assist the transition toward a green and circular economy.

Job Description :

We are seeking two highly motivated Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDF) for a collaborative project between SusMat-RC at UM6P and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Under the supervision of Professor Youssef Habibi, the successful candidates will focus on developing innovative recycling technologies for plastic waste through sustainable physical and/or chemical pathways.

Key duties include:

• Conducting hands-on polymer processing, recycling, and characterization.
• Designing, executing, and analyzing experiments using analytical, spectroscopic, and
• microscopic techniques.
• Collaborating within an interdisciplinary team of chemists, polymer specialists, and
• engineers.
• Maintaining detailed experimental records and drafting technical reports, research papers,
• and conference presentations.
• Contributing to proposal writing and seeking external funding.
• Supervising undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students.
• Traveling abroad for short-term work assignments as required.

Position Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related areas.
• Hands-on expertise in polymer processing, synthesis, and characterization.
• Strong background in material performance testing and reliability analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to show initiative, work independently, and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Excellent organizational and team-collaboration skills.

Criteria of the candidate:

• PhD in the subject discipline with relevant experience as a postdoctoral researcher.
• Proven ability to perform multidisciplinary research and contribute to funded research
• programs.
• Excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong focus on achieving high-quality research outputs.

Application and Selection

The application folder must contain:

• Detailed CV.
• Cover letter along with a synthetic presentation of the background, research works, projects, activities, publications, and key achievements.
• Research plan (addressing how your skills will benefit this role and why you are interested in this position).
• Contact information of 3 referees.

2 positions.