Research Scientist in the Center for Water Research - Dr. Nidal Hilal

NYUAD Water Research Center at New York University Abu Dhabi seeks to recruit a research scientist to work on the development of membrane desalination to treat water from the Arabian Gulf feed sources and on the design and scale-up of low energy membranes for water purification under the supervision of Professor Nidal Hilal Director of the Water Research Center and Global Professor of Engineering.

The successful applicant will drive an exciting project on developing functional membrane materials including nanostructured polymer membranes tailored to microfiltration ultrafiltration membrane distillation nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. The candidate will employ advanced membrane fabrication techniques and characterization tools (SEM TEM DSC TGA BET etc.) to establish fabrication-structure-property-performance relationships in novel materials for sustainable desalination and water treatment. The candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment consisting of PhD-level scientists and engineers graduate students and undergraduate students.

The successful applicant will manage projects and work closely with postdoctoral researchers build deep technical knowledge and develop transferable solutions. He/she will participate in developing novel concepts and writing proposals. He/she will work towards solving complex problems with efficiency and creativity. He/she will be involved in writing reports authoring publications drafting patents and presenting results at conferences. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated knowledge of materials science and engineering membrane fabrication techniques membrane characterization tools and separation processes. He/she will be detail-oriented well-organized and will possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. The successful candidate should be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Applicants must hold a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering Polymer Chemistry Chemical Engineering or a related field and have a minimum of five years experience as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Excellent experimental and analytical skills relevant to the project (in particular membrane fabrication and characterization) are required. Candidates with demonstrated history of peer reviewed publications in a related area along with prior expertise in materials science and analytical chemistry will be preferred.

This position will begin in March 2026 as a two-year contract renewable depending on performance. The terms of employment are very competitive and include housing and educational subsidies for children. Applications will be accepted immediately and candidates will be considered until the position is filled. To be considered all applicants must submit a cover letter curriculum vitae a one-page summary of research accomplishments and interests and at least 2 references all in PDF format. Please visit our website at for instructions and information on how to apply. If you have any questions please email: .

About NYUAD:
NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts Sciences Social Sciences Humanities and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi NYU New York and NYU Shanghai form the backbone of NYUs global network university an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought advanced research knowledge creation and sharing through its academic research and creative activities.

EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Employer

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply.