Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university, with a turnover of $1.3bn, including research revenue of over $300m generated across eight diverse faculties and two research institutes. We employ more than 5400 academic and professional staff to support over 45,000 students, making us one of NZ’s largest employers.

Our mission and values place strong emphasis on both our student body and our scholarly community, and we work with both community and enterprise to advance the well-being of the peoples of Auckland and New Zealand, with a clear commitment to pursuing sustainability.

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual to join the team as a postdoctoral research fellow for 2 years, starting early 2022. This project will develop prototypes for biodegradable passive and active RFID tags suitable for use in supply-chain management and wild-life tracking. The main challenge will be to optimise the electromechanical coupling in a set of biological materials through material selection, processing, and stabilisation. The project will then move to evaluation of tag designs, to create both passive and active (energy harvesting RFID tags). The developed biodegradable RFID tags will have applications in for example supply-chain management and animal tracking and can be combined with sensor elements to detect environmental conditions.

If you are an ambitious PhD graduate interested in developing devices from biological materials, then this may be the project for you. The successful candidate will work alongside the wider team and collaborate across several research groups at the University of Auckland and GNS Science in Wellington.

The role also includes teaching (10%) into our Chemical and Materials Engineering program, an excellent experience for academic career progression.

For more detailed information, please refer to the Position Description.

Mō tō mātou rōpū | About the team

Your primary location will within the department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Auckland. Travel to the our collaborator in Wellington will be encouraged. You will join a recently initiated research collaboration, which is highly interdisciplinary and internationally connected.

He kōrero mōu | About you

The successful candidate will be excited to work in an interdisciplinary project and must have a PhD degree in a relevant discipline with a willingness to learn and apply new techniques.

We are looking for a person with a proven track-record of research, has excellent communication skills (written and oral), who works well in a team environment and who is organised and driven. Teaching experience or an interest in developing skills in teaching and supervision is favoured. Due to current border restrictions local applicants will be given preference over international applicants. Ideal candidates must have experience in some or all of the below:

• Microfabrication and electronic materials, ideally electromechanical coupling
• Material chemistry/engineering
• Material processing (printing, electrospinning, coating)
• Characterisation methods such as: AFM, SEM, mechanical testing, and electrical characterisation

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities. 

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare and a number of other discounts on internal and external services. 

For more information please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications must be submitted online, by the closing date of 10 November 2021 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and your CV highlighting how you can meet the skills and experiences detailed above.

Please reach out to Jenny Malmstrom via [email protected] for a confidential conversation. Please note we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email.

In accordance with our commitment to equitable recruitment, the University welcomes applications from all suitably qualified and experienced candidates. In response to COVID-19 the New Zealand Government has imposed a travel ban and are currently only allowing New Zealand Residents, Citizens and visa holders meeting a strict exception policy to enter the country, all of whom must currently enter Government approved quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

It is uncertain when these border restrictions will change, and this may impact the degree to which an off-shore candidate can engage in the interview process; or be available to commence in a new position. For more information and updates on the border restrictions visit the Immigration New Zealand website or the New Zealand Government’s official Covid-19 website.

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQITakatāpui+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other equity issues go to equity.auckland.ac.nz.