Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Scientist – Polymer Rheology and Processing

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia's premier research institution on the Red Sea coast in Thuwal, seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist to lead investigations in advanced polymer rheology and processing. This role is part of industrially funded initiatives focused on structure-rheology-processability relationships and advanced polymer manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct rheological experiments on bulk and interfacial polymer systems
• Establish processing-structure-property correlations for multi-phase and multilayer polymer systems
• Optimize advanced polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, fiber spinning)
• Collaborate directly with industrial partners and communicate results to non-academic stakeholders
• Contribute to intellectual property development and patent generation
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals
• Mentor junior team members (PhD students, research engineers)

Required Qualifications

• PhD in polymer science, polymer engineering, materials science, or related field
• Demonstrated competency in experimental and/or computational polymer rheology
• Strong foundation in polymer physics and viscoelastic behavior
• Hands-on practical experience with polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, or fiber spinning)
• Excellent English communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in interfacial rheology with multiphase polymer systems
• Experience with multilayer co-extrusion, thermal fiber drawing, or thin-film manufacturing
• Industrial thermoplastics background
• Computational modelling experience (finite element or molecular simulations)
• Prior involvement in industrially funded research projects

Benefits: Competitive tax-free compensation, furnished housing, health insurance, and relocation support.

Application Deadline: 17 November 2026