The Applied Chemistry and Engineering Research Centre of Excellence (ACER CoE) at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) invites applications for Associate/Full professor position in the field Non-Metallic Materials for Automotive Applications.
Description of UM6P
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is an internationally oriented institution of higher learning, that is committed to an educational system based on the highest standards of teaching and research in fields related to the sustainable economic development of Morocco and Africa. UM6P is an institution oriented towards applied research and innovation. On a specific focus on Africa, UM6P aims to position these fields as the forefront and become a university of international standing.
More than just a traditional academic institution, UM6P is a platform for experimentation and a pool of opportunities, for students, professors and staff. It offers a high-quality living and study environment thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure. With an innovative approach, UM6P places research and innovation at the heart of its educational project as a driving force of a business model.
In its research approach, the UM6P promotes transdisciplinary, entrepreneurship spirit and collaboration with external institutions for developing up to date science and at continent level in order to address real challenges.
All our programs run as start-ups and can be self-organized when they reach a critical mass. Thus, academic liberty is promoted as far as funding is developed by research teams. The research programs are integrated from long-term research to short-term applications in linkage with incubation and start-up ecosystems.
Description of ACER-CoE
The Centre was established in early 2022 to address enduring process challenges in Chemistry and Engineering disciplines and create an environment for interdisciplinary/collaborative research. The research program of ACER CoE is multidisciplinary in nature aiming to create a platform bridging chemistry and engineering with faculty members affiliated and/or non-affiliated to other UM6P departments.
The faculty members with their research groups at ACER CoE have complementary expertise from different filed of Chemistry (inorganic, organic, coordination, Polymeric, physical, analytical) combined with different filed of Engineering (chemical, process, Mechanical, electrical, etc …) to address problems in industrial, residential and transportation sectors.
Desired Skills and Experience
In order to reinforce the team, the steering committee of ACER CoE has decided to open a position for an Associate or Full Professor in Non-Metallic Materials for Automotive Applications. The candidate’s primary role is to strengthen ACER-CoE Center’s competences through developing and implementing new disruptive research programs to expand scientific knowledge of UM6P on non-metallic materials leading to faster new products and technologies development for multiple applications including, but not limited to, automotive.
The candidate is expected to:
- Develop and consolidate an independent research program of international excellence within the subject field, actively seeking and attracting funding for research projects, larger consortia and research organizations, as well as conducting multi-disciplinary research in close collaboration with partners within and outside UM6P.
- Develop new synthetic methods and manufacturing processes for carbon fiber based technologies with enhanced performance and lower cost towards automotive lightweighting applications.
- Work closely with internal teams as well as research organizations and automotive OEMs to identify technical gaps/challenges that hinder a mass-penetration of carbon fibers and carbon fiber reinforced plastics based technologies in Automotive sector.
- Engage with industrial partners to integrate the developed technologies in real-world applications in collaboration with automotive OEMs, and ensure effective commercialization of the developed technologies.
- Provide hands-on assistance with the commissioning, operation and maintenance of pilot demonstration and pre-commercial units to develop a new generation of composite materials focusing on carbon fibers and carbon fiber reinforced plastics.
- Participate in department/university meetings, take part in various committees, and assist in recruitment activities.
- Coordinate effective departmental communication via regular faculty & staff meetings, town halls, and/or electronic communications.
- Publish papers in highly recognized journals, present research outcomes in international events and grant patents based on novel research results.
- Identify areas of improvement within the research structure using integrated management approaches in pursuit of capacity building/strengthening and the preservation of scientific rigor in research studies.
- Participate in the development of undergraduate courses, aster courses, and modules, as well as the establishment of state-of-the-art research laboratory.
- Supervise graduate and internship students and contribute to build up a first-class research-oriented teaching and research programs at UM6P.
Required Qualifications
- PhD degree in Materials Science, Polymers Science or Chemical Engineering from a recognized program, with a track-record of leading-edge contributions in automotive lightweighting research.
- At least 10 years of R&D experience in advanced materials synthesis and the associated technology development including at least 5 years in the field of non-metallic materials at an industrial environment.
- Ability to set R&D strategies, develop technology roadmaps, connect innovation ecosystem players and establish new business partnerships.
- Ability, or demonstrated willingness, to pursue the commercialization of research outputs through contributions to the creation of new intellectual property, spin-out companies, technology licensing, product development or other forms of knowledge transfer.
- Experience in complex projects management including milestones tracking, project finance & contracts development, technology licensing and commercialization.
- A strong technical competency to identify current technical challenges in this area, propose new research projects to tackle these challenges.
- Proven technical experience in the synthesis of advanced carbon-based materials, including: carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene…
- Experience in developing, testing and qualification protocols as well as knowledge of common and arising manufacturing processes used in non-metallics and composites processing.
- Ability to identify competencies gaps and building/managing/leading R&D teams.
- Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience post- graduation in a university set-up.
- Track record of advising both undergraduate and graduate students, and an exceptional track record of peer review publications, research funding acquisition and international transdisciplinary collaborations with governmental agencies and the industry.
- Evidence of other relevant scholarly activity including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing research grant applications as appropriate for the discipline.