The Department of Materials Engineering at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus) seeks qualified applicants for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in hydrometallurgy, with an emphasis on solvent extraction and ion exchange (in exceptional cases, a tenure-track or tenured, appointment at the rank of Associate Professor may be considered). The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Over its long history, the Department of Materials Engineering at UBC has distinguished itself with excellence in research, teaching and service in Materials Engineering. The Department has a strong record of collaborative work within UBC and industry and promotes interdisciplinary research. This appointment will strengthen solution purification and separation expertise within UBC’s Industrial Research Chair in Hydrometallurgy and support integrated process development for primary and secondary resources.

We seek an emerging researcher with expertise in aqueous speciation, chemical equilibria and separation chemistry, and demonstrated expertise in solvent extraction, ion exchange or both. Relevant capabilities include metal–ligand chemistry, extraction and exchange equilibria, reaction kinetics, mass transfer, and the behaviour of complex multicomponent solutions. Research should connect fundamental materials chemistry with process performance, including selectivity, loading and stripping, regeneration, phase behaviour and reagent stability.

Potential research directions include selective metal recovery from complex leach solutions; improved extractants, resins and operating strategies; impurity removal; and separations for base and precious metals, critical minerals and recycled materials.



The candidate will integrate rigorous experiments and quantitative models, consider realistic process conditions, and develop a credible path from focused separations research toward broader hydrometallurgical processes. Potential for growth into complementary areas such as leaching, precipitation, crystallization, and electrochemical recovery is valued; expertise across all these areas is not expected.

The successful candidate will develop an independent, internationally recognized research program and seek funding, both individually and collaboratively, from government and industrial sources. Responsibilities will also include teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervising undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students, and providing service to the University and the broader community. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an equitable, diverse, and inclusive learning and research environment that is respectful of all students, staff and faculty.

The appointee will have the opportunity to work within the Industrial Research Chair in Hydrometallurgy to develop research, engage industrial sponsors and sustain UBC’s excellence in hydrometallurgy. Established in 1988 with nine Canadian sponsors, the Industrial Research Chair in Hydrometallurgy at UBC now has 17 sponsors worldwide. The Chair comprises a group of professors who are world-renowned innovators and researchers in their respective fields.



The Chair focuses on three key mandates: conducting research, delivering technical short courses to sponsors, and training undergraduate and graduate students. Developing and delivering Chair short courses will be a core contribution, initially emphasizing aqueous chemistry, solvent extraction, ion exchange and flowsheet integration. Teaching contributions are also expected in undergraduate and graduate hydrometallurgy and related subjects. Experience with industrial process development or pilot-scale investigations would be valuable, assessed relative to career stage.

Applications

A Ph.
D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or a closely related discipline is required. Applicants should demonstrate a strong record of research achievement and teaching ability, or explicit potential to excel in these areas, relative to career stage. The successful candidate must be registered or be eligible to register as a Professional Engineer (P.
Eng.) with Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC). Registriation is required within five years of appointment.

Further information on the Department is available at www.mtrl.ubc.ca and information on the Faculty of Applied Science is available at https://apsc.ubc.ca/faculty.

UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability, or COVID-19 impacts) can have on research achievement and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how career inte

📌 Department of Materials Engineering: Assistant Professor in Hydrometallurgy (Vancouver)
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