Job Description
Position Summary
The Rice WaTER Institute (https://water.rice.edu) and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (https://cee.rice.edu) invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Prof. Qilin Li’s Lab (https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/qilin-li). The initial appointment will be one year, and can be renewed annually contingent on funding and performance.
The research associate will work on electrodialysis and related processes for desalination and resource recovery with a focus on transport mechanisms and process modeling. Main research responsibilities include carrying out laboratory-scale experiments, membrane material fabrication & characterization, and process model simulation. There will be opportunities to mentor undergraduate and graduate students, contribute to grant proposals, conduct guest lectures, and collaborate with academic and industry partners. There will also be ample opportunities and resources for the research associate to develop collaboration with other postdoctoral associates in the Department as well as the Rice WaTER Institute, both providing an excellent environment for the research associate to grow professionally.
Workplace Requirements:
This is an on-site position, requiring all responsibilities to be carried out in person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
This position is a benefits-eligible, full-time position funded by a grant, soft, and/or restricted funds.
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD or other doctoral degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or other related fields
Skills:
- A demonstrable understanding of desalination processes;
- Prior research experience in electrodialysis and ion exchange membranes;
- Experience in developing ion transport models, electrodialysis process models, or models of other desalination processes; programming in Python, MATLAB or other mainstream programming languages
- Demonstrated ability to publish high-quality scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals;
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with other researchers;
- Strong project management skills, including coordinating teamwork and writing project reports;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Essential Functions:
- Performs experiments, analyzes data, and/or develops models.
- Publishes and presents research findings.
- Supports project management and collaboration across institutions, disciplines and with the Institute’s industrial members.
Special Instructions:
Required Application Materials
- Cover Letter
- Statement of research interests and career goals
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Contact Information for Three References
Application review will be on a continuing basis until the position is filled.
Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University
Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.
If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
About Us
Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.
Job Info
- Job Identification: 5242
- Job Category: Postdoctoral Associate
- Posting Date: 10/22/2025, 12:08 AM
- Apply Before: 12/16/2025, 06:59 AM
- Degree Level: Doctorate Degree
- Job Schedule: Full time
- Locations:Â O’Connor Engineering and Science 6100 Main St, Houston, TX, 77005, US
