RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER 1
Req #: | 170878 |
Department: | CHEMICAL ENGINEERING |
Job Location: | Seattle Campus |
Posting Date: | 08/14/2019 |
Closing Info: | Closes On 08/21/2019 |
Salary: | Salary is commensurate with experience and education |
Limited Recruitment: |
Open to Department employees only
If you are a UW employee and would like to be considered for this position, please login to your UW employee profile to apply. |
Shift: | First Shift |
Notes: | As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here. |
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.
Chemical Engineering has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientists/Engineer 1.
The objective of this project is to scale up the production of zwitterionic monomers and polymers from 50 to 200g or larger scale, if possible, in order to support the project funded by the University of Washington Center for Dialysis Innovation (CDI).
The primary job responsibilities to design and perform gradual scale up of zwitterionic carboxybetaine monomers and its copolymers for its utilization in polymer coating for various CDI projects. Process optimization for higher monomer yields and purification of crude monomer using crystallization techniques are very critical in performing scale up of monomer (from 50 to 200gm scale). As part of the scale up, shall be responsible for establishing protocol for large scale organic synthesis of CB monomers, optimize crystallization methods for large scale purification of monomers and perform extensive characterization of these monomers and polymers using NMR and mass spectroscopy. Also be responsible for evaluating the reproducibility of the scale up protocol and stability of the synthesized monomers and polymers.
High-quality samples obtained will be provided to fellow team members and collaborators for CDI-related projects. Collaborate with other group members, graduate students and postdoctoral research associates, and assistant with proposal preparation as part of the team, as needed. Supervisor, Professor Jiang, reviews assignments for unusual problems and selects techniques and procedures for non-routine work.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Set up a reactor for large-scale sample synthesis (5% FTE)
A strong chemistry background with profound knowledge in process chemistry involving organic synthesis of monomer and polymer will be critical for designing reactor for large scale up of monomers and polymers.
Establish protocols/columns for large-scale sample purification (50% FTE)
Development of efficient synthetic protocols for organic synthesis of targeted zwitterionic carboxybetaine monomers and polymers is very important in gradual scale up. Utilizing organic chemistry skill set, synthetic protocols for monomer and polymer synthesis will be designed and developed for gradual scale up of monomers and polymers from 50g to 200g scale. Process optimization will also be carried out to increase the conversion efficiency of each intermediate compounds by varying reaction parameters. These zwitterionic monomers will be purified by crystallization methods. Slight variation in the parameters may affect the yield and purity of the product. Purification of the monomers in final step using crystallization is very tricky and time consuming. This purification technique will be optimized and an efficient purification protocol will be established for performing large scale purification.
Fully characterize the samples produced (5% FTE)
An extensive characterization of these monomers and polymers will be carried out using NMR and mass spectroscopy. All the batches synthesized will be characterized thoroughly for high purity using proton NMR.
Testing the batch-to-batch variation or reproducibility of samples (35% FTE)
Reproducibility of the established synthetic and purification protocols is very critical for large scale production. The reaction efficiency of each step will be investigated in detail by determination of obtained product yields of optimized batch. The batch to batch variation or reproducibility of samples will be carried out by synthesizing at least three batches of zwitterionic monomers and polymers.
Evaluate the stability and storage of samples (5% FTE)
Zwitterionic carboxybetaine monomers are highly hygroscopic and may even self-polymerize. These monomers will be evaluated for long term stability using NMR and HPLC if needed.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's Degree in science or engineering.
• One to two years’ experience.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE
Familiar to polymerization methods (e.g., atom-transfer radical-polymerization and reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization), surface coatings, and chemical/physical/biological characterization methods (e.g., NMR, mass spec and protein adsorption).
Application Process:
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