Industrial Postdoctoral Research Associate

Position Summary:

Coral Innovations (previously MFNS Tech) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our team for an NSF SBIR Phase II-funded project. The project focuses on the development, scaling, and implementation of nanotechnology-based solutions for water treatment and environment remediation. This position is available through the Innovative Postdoctoral Entrepreneurial Research Fellowship (I-PERF). Candidates must be a United States Citizen, National, or Permanent Resident of the United States at the time of application. More information regarding the program, including eligibility, can be found on their website: i-perf.org/#/home.

The successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research addressing critical environmental challenges, combining technical innovation with sustainability and economic feasibility. Three major focus areas for Coral Innovations are: 1) quantifying the environmental impact of implementing Coral Innovations’ technologies, 2) conducting pilot studies and implementing water treatment technologies at larger industrial and municipal scales, and 3) development and scale-up of manufacturing processes. Candidates should have experience in at least one of these focus areas and need not bring expertise in all three.

Key Responsibilities:

·        Explore a variety of nanomaterials for removing pollutants (oil, heavy metals, nutrients) from industrial wastewater and stormwater samples.

·        Collaborate with the technology team to design and deploy portable water treatment prototypes for industrial applications.

·        Integrate life cycle analysis (LCA) and technoeconomic assessments (TEA) to evaluate environmental and economic sustainability.

·        Participate in a scale up production processes using advanced manufacturing techniques based on a flow reactor and roll-to-roll coating systems.

·        Evaluate system level performance of our products under real-world conditions and integrate findings to optimize product design.

·        Prepare research reports, grant updates, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations.

·        Participate in outreach activities, including educational demonstrations and community engagement.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

·        Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.

·        Experience with water treatment technologies addressing one or multiple pollutants.

·        Familiarity with environmental regulations, standards related to water quality, and real-world water treatment systems.

·        Experience with pilot-scale testing and field deployments of environmental technologies.

Preferred Qualifications:

·        Knowledge of life cycle analysis (LCA) and technoeconomic assessment (TEA) methodologies.

·        Experience scaling up manufacturing processes for materials or environmental systems.

·        Demonstrated ability to integrate sustainability metrics into research and development.

Benefits:

Stipends and benefits are provided through I-PERF. More information can be found on their website: i-perf.org/#/benefits. The benefits include:

·        An annual stipend of minimum $78,000

·        Optional, no-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance

·        Optional, no-cost life insurance

·        Relocation assistance

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should register as an Applicant on the I-PERF website (i-perf.org/#/home) and additionally submit the following documents to vikas@coral-innovations.com

·        A detailed CV, including a list of publications.

·        A cover letter describing your research experience, skills, and how they align with the project goals.

·        Contact information for three professional references.