Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) - Full-Time, Two-Year Term Position

Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) - Full-Time, Two-Year Term Position

Competition Number: 50A26 Position Type: Academic Opening Closing Date: Oct 5, 2026 Date of Posting: Sep 21, 2026 Department: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering Position: Post-Doctoral Research Associate Contract: Full-time, two-year position Term:

ASAP -  September 30, 2026

About UPEI and FSDE

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) is an interdisciplinary engineering faculty focused on sustainable design, engineering innovation, and applied research. FSDE offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Sustainable Design Engineering and supports multidisciplinary research in areas including Bioresources, Sustainable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, and Robotics and Industrial Automation.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative research environment involving graduate and undergraduate researchers, technical staff, and external research and industry partners.

Position Overview

FSDE at UPEI invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to an interdisciplinary research program led by Dr. Yulin Hu. The program focuses on converting biomass and biowaste into value-added carbon materials, fuels, chemicals, and clean-energy products. The successful candidate must have strong research experience in materials synthesis and characterization of carbon materials for energy storage devices.

The successful candidate will conduct independent and collaborative research, develop experiments, analyze results, publish findings, and contribute to research projects with academic and industry partners. Research activities may include thermochemical conversion, biochar/biocarbon production and functionalization, catalytic conversion, photocatalytic hydrogen production, CO2 capture, biomass-derived fuels, and materials characterization.

Term:  ASAP – September 30, 2028 (full-time, two-year term)

Key Responsibilities

•    Design and conduct independent and collaborative research in biomass conversion, biocarbon materials, catalysis, or related clean tech and sustainable energy areas.
•    Develop experimental protocols, operate laboratory equipment, and maintain accurate research records.
•    Characterize biomass-derived materials and products using appropriate analytical and materials-characterization techniques.
•    Analyze and interpret experimental data using appropriate engineering, chemical, statistical, and/or electrochemical methods.
•    Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and present research at conferences and research meetings.
•    Contribute technical reports, research proposals, project deliverables, and knowledge-mobilization activities.
•    Mentor and provide technical guidance to graduate and undergraduate research students, as appropriate.
•    Collaborate with UPEI researchers, external academic partners, government organizations, and industry collaborators.

Required Qualifications

•    PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electrochemistry, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
•    Demonstrated research experience in one or more relevant areas such as carbon materials synthesis and characterization, electrochemistry, energy storage devices, semiconductors, or sustainable energy/materials.
•    Must have strong expertise in potentiometry, voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. 
•    Strong experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, and problem-solving skills.
•    A record of peer-reviewed research publications appropriate to career stage.
•    Ability to work independently and effectively in a multidisciplinary research team.
•    Strong written and oral communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

•    Experience with biomass pyrolysis, hydrothermal conversion, catalytic upgrading, or related thermochemical technologies.
•    Experience with characterization techniques, particularly electrochemical measurements, such as BET, TGA, GC-MS/GC-FID, elemental analysis, SEM, FTIR, EIS, CV, OCP, or related methods.
•    Experience with photocatalytic hydrogen production, CO2 capture, electrochemical systems, or carbon-based functional materials.
•    Experience with programming, statistical analysis, process modelling, LCA, TEA, or data visualization.
•    Experience mentoring undergraduate or graduate researchers and/or working with industry partners.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit via the link below:
•    A cover letter.
•    A current curriculum vitae including publications.
•    A brief research statement.
•    Contact information for three references.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The closing date for applications is October 5th, 2026; however, the competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
 

Application Instructions:

Please submit electronically a cover letter, quoting the competition number, a resume and reference list to be received no later than the closing date via the link below.

If you are unable to apply online, you can drop off your resume to the Human Resources Department, Kelley Building, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3, Fax Number 902-894-2895.

UPEI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation and believes in providing a positive learning and working environment where every person feels empowered to contribute. UPEI is committed to the principle of equity in employment and encourages applications from underrepresented groups including women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. If you require accommodation in any part of the process, please direct your inquiries, in confidence, to our HR Officer, [email protected]. Applications will not be accepted via email.

Only those applicants who are invited to an interview will be acknowledged.

Note that this site is not compatible with some mobile browsers (e.g. iPad, iPhone). Upon successful submission of your application, you will receive an auto-reply to your email address advising your application has been received. If you do not receive an email, please check your spam folder and/or try submitting your application via a different web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc).

Apply for Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) - Full-Time, Two-Year Term Position (50A26)

UPEI encourages all qualified applicants to apply for job openings; however, in keeping with the terms and provisions of the university’s various employment and collective agreements, first priority will be given to internal candidates.