Research Assistant (Part Time)-Collier Group

Role details

Special Instructions to Applicants Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Job Summary

The research assistant supports ongoing work in polymer synthesis, materials characterization, and data analysis, and helps coordinate the group’s research activities. The role involves hands-on experimental work, data interpretation, and contributions to scientific outputs, including reports and publications.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

+ Conducts the synthesis and chemical modification of conjugated polymers using established and experimental methods. Optimizes reaction parameters and maintains consistency across multiple batches of materials.

+ Carries out physical and chemical characterization of polymers, including morphological and thermal analysis. Uses instrumentation such as FTIR, NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA to gather and interpret data relevant to structure-property relationships.

+ Contributes to the preparation of technical reports, research proposals, manuscripts for publication, and presentation materials. Maintains detailed records of experimental procedures, observations, and results in lab notebooks and digital formats.

+ Participates in collaborative projects with external partners. May travel to national laboratories, user facilities, or scientific conferences for experimental work or to support dissemination of research findings.

+ Assists in managing laboratory operations, including inventory, ordering, and maintenance of equipment. May provide guidance or training to new lab members or students involved in the group’s projects.

+ Performs other duties as assigned.