Chemical Processing Research Director - FIPR

Florida Polytechnic University

3d • $80,000 - $90,000

About The Position

Make a difference at one of Florida’s premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No. 1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed. Florida Poly offers a small campus academic environment where students form connections with their faculty and peers as they pursue high-value degrees in engineering and applied sciences. The University is equipped with cutting-edge facilities and equipment and two award-winning, architecturally distinct academic buildings. Its evolving curriculum, designed to meet the needs of industry and provide a life-long educational foundation for students, has helped the institution grow in prominence since its opening in 2014. Florida Poly’s deliberately small classes, affordability, and outstanding graduate outcomes have helped it earn recognitions such as being named a top value school, in the top 25 nationally for affordability, and in the top five best universities in the South for tech students. Accredited by ABET and SACSCOC, Florida Poly is educating some of the brightest minds in Florida and attracting standout talent from across the nation. The Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research (FIPR) Institute at Florida Polytechnic University invites applications and nominations for a Chemical Processing Research Director position. The Chemical Processing Research Director will report to FIPR Institute’s Senior Director of Research and will take the lead in research and development projects with a focus on process water treatment and/or utilization of phosphogypsum in relation to phosphate processing and fertilizer production. Research projects will be both internally funded and defined projects and externally funded projects where the Principal Scientist plays a critical role in securing the project and funding. He or she will also collaborate with environmental engineering faculty in research grants application and conducting research projects. Candidates for the position are preferred to hold a Ph.D degree in in the fields of chemical engineering, mineral processing, environmental engineering, or physical sciences, with eight or more years’ experience relevant to the phosphate industry and/or water quality.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in the fields of chemical engineering, mineral processing, environmental engineering, a closely related field, or an Master's degree in the physical sciences and five or more years’ experience relevant to the phosphate industry and/or water quality.
• Working, in-depth knowledge of some of the following topics: inorganic chemistry, chemical engineering unit operations, chemical engineering modeling experience (for instance with ASPEN), thermodynamics, phosphoric acid manufacturing and fertilizer production, waste utilization, and separation technologies.
• Capable of independent research data interpretation and analysis, research program design, and experimental skills appropriate to their expertise in research.
• Strong communication skills, particularly writing skills for research grant applications and technical papers.
• This position requires a criminal background check.
• This position is subject to Federal and State Privacy Regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. degree in the fields noted above and 8 years of research experience.
• Of particular interest are separation technologies including S-L separation, solvent extraction and ion exchange, waste recovery and reuse, application of membrane and nanotechnology in water treatment and materials separation, development of processing flowsheets for comprehensive recovery of valuable elements from wastes and byproducts.

Responsibilities

• Identify R&D needs related to the phosphate industry and Florida Poly’s environmental programs and develop initiatives to address those needs.
• Collaborate with phosphate industry partners and Florida Poly faculty to define and execute research programs.
• Prepare and submit grant proposals for federal and industrial funding opportunities.
• Conduct research on the treatment of acidic wastewater and the beneficial use of phosphogypsum.
• Prepare research reports and technical papers for publication.
• Supervise research staff and manage project deliverables.

Benefits

• Florida Poly qualified employees have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of health benefits (through the State of Florida) to help meet their specific needs, as well as the needs of their family. This comprehensive coverage includes flexible spending accounts, medical and life insurance, and worker's compensation.
• Health benefits are administered through People First, on behalf of the State of Florida, as pre-tax insurance plans.
• RETIREMENT Florida Poly offers great options for retirement. From the required selection of a state plan to additional voluntary retirement plans, our employees have many opportunities to save and prepare for their future.
• Annual Leave To help promote work-life balance, Florida Poly provides a generous leave program, which includes paid time off and paid holidays. Qualified employees may accrue 22 days of annual leave. In addition, the University observes the holidays listed in our University Holidays policy FPU-1.008.
• Sick Leave Qualified employees may also accrue 12 days of annual sick leave and participate in our Sick Pool Program.
• Employee Assistant Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director