Senior Scientist

Hamad Bin Khalifa University

HBKU is seeking applications for the position of Senior Scientist Desalination & Brine Management. This role is strategically important to advancing Qatar s water security agenda and the broader sustainability vision of QEERI and HBKU. The successful candidate will lead high-impact scientific research in desalination technologies, brine management, and mineral recovery. The work will involve laboratory-scale investigations, pilot plant operations, process simulation, and integration of emerging technologies.

• Lead and execute cutting-edge research in desalination, brine management, and mineral recovery, aligned with national and regional water security priorities, while also conducting independent research that makes original contributions to the institute.
• Work collaboratively as part of a team to build recognition of marked distinction in these areas of research.
• Conduct research that supports the grand challenge research portfolios.
• Design and manage laboratory and pilot-scale experiments, ensuring rigorous data collection and analysis.
• Develop and validate advanced desalination processes, including reverse osmosis (RO), multi-effect distillation (MED), membrane distillation (MD), and emerging hybrid technologies.
• Innovate in brine utilization, including salt recovery, mineral extraction, thermal energy storage, and circular economy pathways.
• Collaborate with industry, government agencies, and academic partners to translate research into deployable technologies and policy recommendations.
• Supervise and train junior scientists, research associates, postdoctoral fellows, students, research-support, and administrative staff
• Promote relationships with research groups within Qatar Environment & Energy Institute (QEERI) and with other external entities
• Prepare research proposal submissions to appropriate national and international agencies in order to secure competitive funding
• Actively participate in research conferences and seminars in the field of expertise
• Provide occasional contributions to the education programs within Education City or Qatar within the field of expertise, where needed
• Generate high-quality scholarly output, including archival journal papers, patents, and conference presentations
• Participate in the recruitment process of QEERI research staff
• Participate in the development and implementation of new procedures within the QEERI as appropriate
• Advice on the areas of development for HBKU and contribute to the development of roadmaps for research implementation
• Assist with the integration of individual projects into a cohesive overall program and coordinate with other HBKU Research initiatives throughout the division, the Education City, and nationwide
• Provide analysis, recommendations, and presentations to cross-functional teams, HBKU Research
• Division, and the Strategic Research Board, where and when needed
• Develop and ensure the implementation of HBKU policies and procedures for the safe conduct, compliance, and regulatory issues of scientific research.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as required
• Other reasonable tasks as assigned by the supervisor

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field with 6+ years of experience and a strong publication record.
• A strong record of leading high-impact projects in desalination, water treatment, and brine management, reinforced by a solid publication record and proven project leadership.
• Proven expertise in process design, simulation (e.g., Aspen, SysCAD, COMSOL, Ansys), and experimental methods related to desalination and resource recovery.
• Experience with pilot plant operations, technology scale-up, and system-level integration is highly desirable.
• Strong ability to lead interdisciplinary research teams and manage multi-stakeholder projects.
• Experience working in an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory is advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory safety, quality processes, and adaptability to a multicultural environment.
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