Role Context and Strategic Alignment

This position is an integral part of an industry-partnered, job position focused on the

development, optimization, validation, and scale-up of nanomaterial-enabled technologies

for oil sands tailings management and industrial produced water treatment. The is a rapid-

paced role directly addresses industry challenges, including water reuse, tailings reduction,

chemical minimization, and cost-effective, scalable treatment solutions.

Primary Purpose of the Position

The primary purpose of this position is to lead applied research and technology

development activities related to nanoparticle-based flocculants and surface-modified

filtration media for tailings, and industrial-produced water and treatment. The role bridges

fundamental research and industrial deployment and supports the advancement of

technologies from laboratory to pilot-scale readiness and finally to commercial deployment.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Design, synthesize, and optimize polymer-grafted nanomaterials for enhanced settling and

dewatering in oil sand tailing, and filter-aid media grafted with nanomaterials for removal

of hardness, silica and TOC from SAGD produced water.




Conduct bench-scale and pilot-scale experiments under industry-relevant conditions.
Evaluate performance using settling, dewatering, adsorption, and filtration metrics.
Develop transport and adsorption models to support scale-up and decision-making.
Collaborate with industry partners and contribute to technical deliverables.
Mentor HQP and support training aligned with industry partner’s objectives.

Qualifications and Expertise
MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Materials Science, or related

field.
Expertise in nanomaterials, surface chemistry, colloid science and polymer chemistry.
Experience with water, wastewater, and tailings treatment systems.
Robust background in transport phenomena and mass transfer.
Proven technical writing and publication record.

Expected Outcomes
Validated nanomaterial-based treatment technologies.
Peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.
Scalable datasets supporting pilot deployment.
Contributions to IP and commercialization activities.
Advanced training of HQP within an industry-partnered framework.

Pay: $25.00-$45.00 per hour

Perks:
Casual dress

Work Location: In person

📌 Research Scientist – Nanotechnology For Industrial Water & Tailings Treatment Calgary (Canada)
🏢 NanoWaterTech
📍 Canada