Research Fellow in Membrane Science and Technology

Organisation

Cranfield University

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.

Fixed term contract for 7 months

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,897 to £42,100 per annum

20/02/2026

08/03/2026

• 5244 - JD & Person  (PDF, 275.28kb)

We welcome applications from experienced membrane technologists and membrane materials scientists to join our team.

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are critical to desalination and water reuse applications, for the selective separation of unwanted contaminants to produce high quality water. However, the polymer chemistry of the current class of reverse osmosis membranes makes practical operation a challenge, due to the sensitivity to chemicals used for cleaning, limited tolerance to feedwater composition, and an inability to operate intermittently, with these collective factors also reducing the membrane lifetime.

Cranfield are therefore working on a new generation of inorganic 2D materials to produce a chemically and physically robust reverse osmosis membrane technology, comprised of unique geometry that can provide a disruptive solution to the existing RO market, which is experiencing substantial market growth.

The successful candidate would work as part of an existing team developing this 2D technology at Cranfield, and as part of a wider international team of membrane scientists collaborating to accelerate this technology to market. Our ambition is unique, in seeking to accelerate from the basic materials science to a commercial scale module within the duration of the project. Consequently, the successful candidate would work with the team across areas of membrane preparation, synthesis, scale‑up, system design and characterisation, with their specific role being dependent on experience and expertise.

This is a rare opportunity to have meaningful input into the development of a new generation of membrane technologies, which we intend to accelerate into the marketplace.

Support towards visa costs can be provided for this position.

You will have a PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, or a related discipline. Extensive knowledge in membrane materials science and/or membrane systems operation and diagnostics is essential. Candidates must have a proven ability in the design, build and construction of laboratory testing equipment, as well as undertaking extensive laboratory-based experimental research.

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world‑class expertise, large‑scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

Cranfield Water Science Institute has over 40 years’ experience in the water sector, and we are recognised internationally for our transformational research and teaching in the science, engineering and management of water. Cranfield houses state‑of‑the‑art laboratory facilities, enabling research to be undertaken in all areas of water science, and in addition operates the National Research Facility for Water and Wastewater Treatment, offering a unique suite of near‑industrial‑scale piloting facilities which are globally leading.

The membrane group within Cranfield Water Science Institute is built on a strong heritage of delivering internationally competitive science, and we are seeking a highly motivated individual to grow our group and support the delivery of pioneering research on the engineering of 2D membranes for desalination and water reuse.

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do:
Ambition;
Impact;
Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions…