Senior Research Project Manager

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Research and Facilitation, Level B

Job Title
Senior Research Project Manager

Department
Research | Y. Abdin| Department of Materials Engineering | Faculty of Applied Science

Compensation Range
$6,068.92 - $8,724.25 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
February 9, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Feb 15, 2025

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

The Department of Materials Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science have 21 faculty, 215 undergraduates, 90 graduate students, 40 staff and many alumni that conduct teaching and research in the field of materials. Materials Engineering has an important and exciting role in current and emerging technologies that make our world what it is today and will help shape the future. Materials engineers have a unique contribution to make to all areas of engineering through materials expertise including developing new materials and improving existing ones, how they are made and disposed of.

The Project Manager and Scientist is responsible for developing and executing objectives for an externally funded project on the topic of bitumen derived carbon fibres and initiating further research and outreach for the project. The position will play a key role in the development and implementation of research ideas to meet project output goals to create low-cost high-performance fibres for clean tech and reduce the carbon footprint of carbon fibre production. The project will pursue the development of functional carbon fibre prototypes for applications such as electromagnetic shielding for battery cases, conductive filaments for anodes, 3-D printed carbon fibre reinforced components, and higher strength and stiffness multifilament yarns for structural composites.

This position requires occasional evening work, and availability as an emergency contact.

Organizational Status
Reports to Dr. Yasmine Abdin.
Work Performed

Strategic Planning and Research Development

* Collaborates with the project faculty PI leads to develop and implement a strategic plan and timelines to meet goals and objectives.

* Manages the research program to ensure viability and proactively identifying funding opportunities from collaborators and external partners for commercial translation of research.

* Provides scientific direction to pursue goals of processing asphaltene into carbon fibre materials and identifying structural characteristics of the feedstocks that enhance carbon fibre performance.

Project Management

* Manages the technical reporting and its delivery to the funding agency.

* Manages routine operations for the project, including group members, to ensure group is meeting milestones.

* Develops effective communication protocols with researchers and collaborates to provide relevant project updates regarding budget and project milestones. Works in collaboration with the faculty PI leads and researcher partners to generate information and metrics on novel scientific finding, academic output, and trainee progress and partnerships.

* Coordinate with equipment vendors and provide training on specialized equipment for fibre spinning, fibre processing, and carbonization.

* Identifies, problem solves, and works to remove barriers to successful project completion, with emphasis on resolving issues and facilitating collaborative relationships on assigned projects between researchers, collaborators, funding agencies, and external stakeholders.

Research and Development

* Contributes to scientific development for processing parameters around fibre spinning, stabilization and carbonization.

* Provides scientific leadership on characterization of fibre and multifunctional composite materials.

* Conducts research that involves both melt spinning of multifilament yarns and novel spinning techniques resulting in sub-micron scale non-woven fibre in order to enhance technical market readiness on the pathway towards commercialization of asphaltene based carbon fibre materials.

Partnerships & Engagement

* Coordinates and organizes the technical project meetings and workshops.

* This role works closely with internal and external stakeholders in Canada and internationally and as such will establish and maintain positive working relationships with stakeholders in UBC, industry, and government. This role will work within the context of a research culture and in accordance with established policies and procedures, vision and values of UBC.

* Represents the project at international and national symposia and conferences,

* Responsible for the effective planning and delivery of research updates and other meetings related to partnership initiatives, including appropriate follow-up.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Must work independently and exercise sound and informed judgment, diplomacy and decision-making. Errors could seriously jeopardize the public and government credibility of the Department, the Faculty, and the University.
Supervision Received
Works independently, reports to Dr. Abdin.
Supervision Given
May supervise Graduate students.
Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- BSc Textile Engineering
- Experience working with asphaltenes
- Experience using computer applications required.

R&D experience in polymer processing & characterization, fiber spinning, carbon fibre and carbon materials production and characterization.

Research and project management experience with demonstrated experience in industry-funded projects or applied product development.

Strong judgement, ethical conduct, and the ability to maintain confidentiality, tact and discretion is essential.