Job Description
The National University of Singapore is seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow to join an interdisciplinary research project on Transforming Waste into Carbon Sinks – The Future of CO₂ Capture in Soil.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to contribute to a pioneering research programme that combines carbon capture, circular economy, sustainable construction materials, and geotechnical engineering to create permanent carbon sinks from waste. You will work with a multidisciplinary research team on cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to reshape the future of land reclamation, earthworks, and carbon-negative infrastructure. The project offers excellent opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers, government agencies, and industry partners while contributing to net zero ambitions and the development of next-generation carbon capture and utilization technologies.
The project aims to develop innovative engineered soil materials that permanently capture atmospheric CO₂ through mineral carbonation while transforming waste into high-value, low-carbon materials for land reclamation and earthwork applications. By integrating circular economy principles, advanced material processing, geotechnical engineering, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU), the project seeks to establish a new class of carbon-negative construction materials that support Singapore's decarbonisation and resource circularity ambitions.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant research programme addressing climate change mitigation, sustainable construction, and long-term carbon storage through innovative reuse of construction waste.
Key responsibilities include:
• Conducting material characterization using chemical, mineralogical, physical, and microstructural techniques to understand carbonation mechanisms and material reactivity.
• Designing and performing laboratory studies on accelerated and natural carbonation under varying environmental conditions to quantify carbon sequestration capacity.
• Investigating the influence of particle size, moisture content, curing conditions, and material composition on carbonation efficiency and long-term carbon storage.
• Evaluating the engineering performance of carbonated soil mixtures, including strength, stiffness, compressibility, permeability, durability, and bearing capacity for land reclamation and earthwork applications.
• Developing predictive models for carbonation kinetics and long-term carbon sequestration under Singapore's climatic conditions.
• Performing life-cycle assessment (LCA), embodied carbon assessment, and techno-economic evaluation of the proposed carbon-negative engineered soil systems.
Job Requirements
• Possess a PhD in Civil Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in one or more of the following areas:
• Cementitious materials and concrete technology.
• Mineral carbonation with solid waste.
• Sustainable and low-carbon construction materials.
• Soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering.
• Material characterization and durability.
• Experience in laboratory testing of cementitious materials, recycled materials, soils, or geotechnical materials.
• Familiarity with characterization techniques such as XRD, XRF, TGA, SEM, FTIR, particle size analysis, thermal analysis, or similar material characterization methods would be advantageous.
• Ability to conduct independent research, analyze data rigorously, and prepare high-quality technical reports and publications.
• Good writing and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team involving university researchers and industry partners.
• Open to fixed-term contract.
