Saturday, June 14, 2008

Research Vacancies at KFUPM

There are four urgent research vacancies for Research Engineer/Research Associate/Post- Doctoral Fellowship at Centre for Renewable Energy, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in the area of Fuel Cells and Solar Energy (Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Research). The Center for Renewable Energy is a newly established National Research center at KFUPM under the Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi Arabia .
Salary and Stipend:
The remuneration package is highly competitive and negotiable.
Note: All positions require earned PhD degree. But people with relevant experience and Master Degree (ME/MS) will also be considered.
Please send your CVs directly to Dr. S.M. Javaid Zaidi, Program Manager (zaidismj@kfupm. edu.sa) ASAP. The contact details are as follows;


Dr. S. M. Javaid Zaidi
Program Manager
Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy and
Assoc. Professor of Chemical Engineering
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Dhahran-31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: + 966 3860 1242
Fax: + 966 3860 4234
E-mail: zaidismj@kfupm. edu.sa
Feel free to contact me for any additional information or queries at nafeesansarai@ gmail.com
Details of the position are as follows;

(A) Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Unit
1. Position: Researcher/Research Engineer
Qualifications:
Ph.D. Degree in Chemical Engineering /Electrochemistry/ Material Science or related field.
Minimum 5 years of experience after Ph.D. in PEM fuel cell and their components, membrane electrode assembly, catalyst layer design, bipolar plates, membrane preparation and testing in the fuel cell testing facility. Background in the electrochemical instruments such as electrical impedance analyzer, potentiometer, cyclic voltammeter etc.
Excellent record of publications, reports or patents in PEM fuel cell and membrane systems and bipolar plates.

Job Description: To lead a group of researchers to;
Establish a research laboratory to develop MEA, membranes, electrocatalyst and bipolar plates at KFUPM
Conduct basic research in the area of polymer fuel cell technology
Establish a laboratory to evaluate performance of fuel cell components
Operate MEA prototyping equipment in order to make concept designs
Design, build and test MEAs in order to verify improvements to durability
Operation of 1KW and 3KW test stands in order to generate data
Apply advanced diagnostic tools to gain insights into cell voltage losses.
Data analysis of polarization curves in order to determine voltage loss breakdown
Analyze results and feedback learning to MEA and Catalyst Layer design teams.
Characterization of developed structures via optical microscopy and SEM, DSC and mechanical testing.
2. Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate
Qualifications:
Ph.D. Degree in Chemical Engineering /Electrochemistry/ Material Science or related field (or M.Sc. with relevant experience)
Research or Education Experience in the area of polymer fuel cell
Excellent Education Record of publications, reports or patents in Photovoltaic cells

Job Description: To work with a group of researchers to;
Conduct research in the area of PEM fuel cell
Work closely in research projects to incorporate latest learning about electro catalyst technology into MEA designs (catalyst, ionomer)
Work on catalyst layer design and process development
Operate MEA prototyping equipment in order to make concept designs
Design, build and test MEAs in order to verify improvements to durability
Data analysis of polarization curves in order to determine voltage loss breakdown
Analyze results and feedback learning to MEA and Catalyst Layer design teams
Characterization of fuel cell components via SEM, DSC, FTIR,
(B) Solar Energy Unit
B1. Photovoltaic Research Area
1. Position: Researcher/Research Engineer
Qualifications:
Ph.D. Degree in Mechanical or Electrical or Physics
Minimum 5 years of experience after Ph.D. in Solar Photovoltaic cell research, manufacturing and testing
Excellent record of publications, reports or patents in Photovoltaic cells

Job Description: To lead a group of researchers to;
Establish a photovoltaic cell research laboratory at KFUPM
Conduct basic research in the area of photovoltaic cells
Establish a pilot manufacturing plant for PV panels
Establish a PV panels testing facility
1. Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate
Qualifications:
Ph.D. Degree in Mechanical or Electrical or Physics
Research or Education Experience in the area of Solar Photovoltaic cell
Excellent Education Record of publications, reports or patents in Photovoltaic cells

Job Description: To work with a group of researchers to;
Conduct research in the area of photovoltaic
Carry out design and testing of photovoltaic cells, modules, arrays, and other systems
Establish a pilot manufacturing plant for PV panels
Test the performance of PV panels.
B2. Solar Thermal Research Area
1. Position: Researcher/Research Engineer
Qualifications:
Ph.D. Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Sciences)
Minimum 5 years of experience after Ph.D. in Solar Thermal research and Applications
Excellent record of publications, reports or patents in the area of Solar Thermal

Job Description: To lead a group of researchers to;
Establish a Solar Thermal research laboratory at KFUPM
Conduct research in the area of solar desalination and distillation
Establish a test facility that is equipped to carry out testing of different types of solar-thermal collectors.
Establish a pilot Solar Thermal Powered Electrical Power Plant
2. Position Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate
Qualifications:
Ph.D. Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Sciences)
Research or Education Experience in the area of Solar Thermal
Excellent Education Record of publications, reports or patents in the area of Solar Thermal

Job Description: To work with a group of researchers to;
Conduct research in the area of solar thermal Applications such as heating ,cooling and water desalination and distillation
Test different types of solar-thermal collectors.
Test the actual performance of a pilot Solar Thermal Powered Electrical Power Plant
Note: All the position required an earned PhD degree. But people with relevant experience with Master Degree (ME/MS) will also be considered.