PostdoctoralResearchPositioninPolymerChemistryUniversityofCalifornia,SanDiegoFood&Fuelforthe21STCentury

CaliforniaCenterforAlgaeBiotechnologyPost-DoctoralFellowshipinAlgae-DerivedRenewablePolymersTheavailablepostdoctoralpositionistodevelopenablingtechnologiesthatwillallowdevelopmentofhighvaluerenewable polymers made from algae oils, for near-term commercial deployment. Developing algae basedmaterials that can be used to replace petroleum-based feedstocks in high value products will enable thedevelopmentofenvironmentallyfavorablepolymersandplastics,whileallowingcommercialproductstoenterthemarketintheverynearfuture.Thesehighvalueproducts,includingrigidandflexiblepolyurethanematerials,canprovide immediate economic return, allowing the industry to develop and advance the technologies andefficiencies required to allow eventual large-scale deployment of renewable materials that can competeeconomicallywithpetroleum.Thecurrentprojectfocusesondevelopmentofpolyurethaneprecursorsbychemicalmodification of feedstocks extracted from algal biomass to produce renewable polymers and apply them tospecificproductsectors.Byassemblingworld-classscientists fromarangeofdisciplines,weaimtodevelopnewtechnologiesandmaterialswiththegoalofrapidcommercialdeploymentthroughindustrialcollaborations.About TheCalifornia Center for Algae Biotechnology (Cal-CAB) was formed in 2008 to facilitate collaborationsamong the many research labs and commercial sector partners that were working in algae biotechnology inCalifornia. Located at UC San Diego, the center quickly became a national and international center for algaebiotechnologyandgainedmembersfromthroughoutCalifornia,theUS,andinternationally.Cal-CABpresentlyhasover33algaeresearchfacultyfromeightCaliforniaUniversitiesasfullmembers,aswellascollaborativepartnersfromotherUSUniversities,Japan,Australia,theUnitedKingdom,andEurope.PositionOverviewCal-CAB is seeking a Polymer Chemist or Materials Scientist to support discovery activities for new polymermaterials. This position will report to the Associate Director of Cal-CAB. This is a paid, full time, postdoctoralpositionbasedatthemaincampusofUniversityofCalifornia,SanDiegoinLaJolla,CA.Qualifications

• Ph.D.inChemistry,Chemicalengineering,Polymerscience,orMaterialScienceorarelateddiscipline• Experiencedevelopingnovelmaterials,includingpolymers,formulations,polymericsystems,andrelated

materialdevelopmentaplus.RelevantSkillsandExperience

• This position requires the successful candidate to be an adept, hands-on chemist with experience inmaterials and polymer, polymer materials modification and characterization, and formulationdevelopment.

• Fundamentalunderstandingofmaterialsynthesis,characterization,structure-propertyrelationshipsandutilizationtowardsapplicationdevelopmentisalsodesirable.

• The ability to work in a team-oriented, interdisciplinary environment that embraces change, risk, andflexibilityisneeded.

• Thisindividualmustbecapableofhandlingmultipleprojects/tasksatthesametime.

• Ademonstratedabilitytowork independentlyandwithinateamwithsenseofurgencyfortimelines isneeded.

• Thisindividualwillhavethepotentialtoleadtechnicalaspectswithinprojectteams.• Thesuccessfulcandidatemusthaveexcellentverbalandwrittencommunicationskills.• Apassionandenthusiasmforinnovationwillbeanasset.• Provenproblemsolvingskillsandgoodinterpersonalrelationshipandpeopleskillswillbeneeded.

ResponsibilitiesThePostdoctoralResearcherwillberesponsiblefordesigninganddevelopingnewmaterialsfromavailablealgaeoilfeedstocks. Extractionofoilsfromalgaebiomass,andchemicalconversiontosuitablemonomerswillalsoberequired. This individualwillplayakey role inamultidisciplinary teamof scientistsand identifynewmaterials,formulations,andperformancetargetsthroughcollaborationswithotherresearchgroupsandindustrialpartnerstoaddressnewopportunitiesforfutureapplications.Keyresponsibilitieswillinclude:

• Materialsdesignbasedontargetperformancecriteria.• Formulationoptimizationandanalysis.• Hands-onchemicalsynthesis,modificationandscale-up.• Development and validation of materials synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation

protocols.• Designofexperiments.• Criticalreviewofliteraturetoidentifystateofthearttechnologyapplications.• Collaboratewithbiomassproductionmembersandcross-functionalteams.• Presentationoftechnologytothelaboratory,center,collaborators,andatlocalandnationalconferences.• Preparemanuscriptsandpatentfilings.• Strongorganizationskills,attentiontodetailandanalyticalskills.• Excellentcommunicationandinterpersonalskills.EligibilitytoworkintheU.S.isrequired.

Forimmediateconsiderationpleasesendacoverletterandresumeto:mburkart@ucsd.edu