Research Technician - Polymer Chemistry

21h21 hours ago

New York University

Abu Dhabi, AE · Full-time · AED 150,000 – AED 220,000

About this role

The Marine Microbiomics Lab at New York University Abu Dhabi seeks to appoint a Research Technician with a background in chemistry or materials science. This role involves a collaborative project funded by Emirates Biotech, assessing abiotic and biotic degradation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) under UAE environmental conditions. It supports sustainable plastics production and circular bioeconomy strategies in the region.

The technician will characterize PLA and related materials in laboratory and field incubation experiments. Apply analytical and imaging techniques to study degradation pathways and kinetics. Play a central role in Phase 1 abiotic lab simulations and contribute to field incubations and microbial enrichment studies.

Join a multidisciplinary team with access to state-of-the-art facilities at NYU Abu Dhabi. These include advanced polymer characterization equipment, high-performance computing, metabolomics, and cutting-edge microscopy platforms via NYUAD Core Technology Platforms. Work collaboratively with academic and industry partners.

Benefit from competitive terms of employment including housing and educational subsidies for children. Contribute to manuscript preparation, data management, and project reporting. Gain direct relevance to the world's largest PLA production facility in Abu Dhabi.

Requirements

Master’s degree in chemistry, materials science, or a related field
Strong hands-on experience with Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and related techniques
Demonstrated ability to prepare, process, and analyze polymer samples
Familiarity with experimental design, data analysis, and maintaining laboratory instrumentation
Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team

Responsibilities

Conducting laboratory simulations of PLA degradation under controlled terrestrial and marine conditions
Characterizing morphological, chemical, and thermal properties of PLA samples using advanced instrumentation
Analyzing degradation products and preparing detailed datasets for kinetics and modeling efforts
Conducting field incubations to deploy and retrieve PLA samples in UAE environments
Assisting with manuscript preparation, data management, and project reporting to both academic and industry partners

Benefits

Access to advanced polymer characterization equipment
Access to high-performance computing, metabolomics, and cutting-edge microscopy platforms
Housing included in terms of employment
Educational subsidies for children