The Faculty of Science of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa welcomes applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Polymer Science, Engineering and Technology.
The Faculty has been awarded funding to support research into the valorization of waste tyres. Fellowships for research into the recycling of waste tyres and rubber products are available.
The value of the Fellowship is R250000. The Fellowship is tenable for one year, renewable for a further two years upon satisfactory progress.
After nine months of the Fellowship, on application, the Fellow may be granted an additional R25000 in support of a presentation at an international conference.
The fellow may, on application, be granted an additional R20000 in support of relocation costs to South Africa.
The successful fellow will work with Assoc. Prof. Chris Woolard in the Chemistry Department. Research activities should tackle the recycling of rubber and tyre waste. The focus should preferably be on the use of waste rubber products, such as tyre crumb, to produce new rubber and polymer products. Specific research areas include:
• Devulcanization
• The effect of waste rubber products on the properties of polymers
• Modification of rubber crumb to improve products incorporating rubber crumb
• Processes for incorporation of rubber crumb into thermoplastics, elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers
• Retreading
i. The purpose of this Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for experiential learning in research.
ii. The Fellowship is only available to individuals who have received a doctorate within the past 5 years. Applicants may not have held full-time or academic posts since achieving their PhD.
iii. Applicants should have experience in an appropriate discipline. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience of rubber science and technology or the recycling of waste.
iv. The successful incumbent will be required to comply with the University’s approved policies for the postdoctoral sector.
All applications, to be submitted electronically, should include:
i) a letter of application which indicates the applicant’s research interests and experience,
ii) a CV including a list of publications,
iii) copies of academic transcripts
iv) names and contact details of at least 2 academic staff who have taught, supervised or worked with the applicant.
Candidates may also submit an accompanying research proposal in the areas, detailed above, to support their application.
Applications should be sent via email to Assoc. Prof. Chris Woolard at
[email protected].
The spplication deadline is 18h00 South African time (GMT+2) on 28 February 2014.
It is understood that, subject to formal application by the University to the South African Revenue Services, the Fellowship should be exempt from South African tax, although no guarantee can be given.
The University reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications. The University reserves the right to change the conditions of award or to make no award at all. University reserves the right to extend the deadline for applications.
For further information contact
Assoc. Prof. Chris Woolard
Tel: +27 (41) 5042147
Email:
[email protected]
