Senior Research Engineer/UK IDEA

Job Title
Senior Research Engineer/UK IDEA


Requisition Number
RE48306


Working Title

Department Name
8H755:UK IDEA


Work Location
Lexington, KY


Grade Level
48


Salary Range
$62,941-103,834/year


Type of Position
Staff


Position Time Status
Full-Time


Required Education

MS



Click here for more information about equivalencies:
https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies


Required Related Experience

2 yrs



Required License/Registration/Certification

None



Physical Requirements

To meet project requirements: lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects, climb stairs and ladders, working outdoors, wearing PPE, sitting for extended periods of time, standing, walking, repetitive motion tasks, and exposure to noises, temperatures, chemicals, and fumes including waste.



Shift

Monday – Friday typical working hours, for example 8:00am – 5:00pm (40 hours/week).
Some nights and weekends shift work may also be required to meet project demands..



Job Summary

Are you ready to be part of cutting-edge research at the heart of one of the nation’s premier institutions? The Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement (IDEA) at the University of Kentucky (UK) is on the lookout for dynamic and innovative researchers to join our world top tier team with a positive, motivating and rewarding working environment, modeled as a 21st century “Bell Laboratory” on emissions and sustainability. This is an opportunity to participate on projects 3–5 years in length, initially, and implement your ideas from conception to demonstration and ultimately to scale-up and commercialization.

Key Responsibilities for the Senior Research Engineer will include but are not limited to:


Project Management and Engineering:

• Provide expert engineering support from project planning through to construction, operation, and testing, ensuring objectives are met.
• Prepare Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) for UK CO2 capture and utilization processes.
• Review P&IDs, specifications, and layouts from external partners.
• Coordinate with subcontractors on techno-economic analysis and safety assessments.
• Commission processes, troubleshoot, perform acceptance testing, and ensure smooth operations.
• Diagnose and resolve technical issues using mechanical expertise and root cause analysis.
• Support the PI in resource planning and project execution.

Research and Reporting:

• Collaborate with the PI on reporting requirements, including monthly and final reports, operating plans, and gap analyses.
• Serve as the lead author on a peer-reviewed journal paper.
• Deliver monthly reports and presentations, and conduct data reduction and interpretation.
• Present research findings at conferences.

The Department of Energy (DOE) requires that all foreign nationals associated with this grant be submitted for review and consideration. The successful candidate will be expected to satisfy the outlined requirements for foreign nationals. A “foreign national” is defined by DOE as any person who is not a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization. To further understand the details of these requirements, please go to: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/100-series/0142.3-B….

This position may require pre-employment drug screening as well as post-hire random drug and alcohol screening.



Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills for collaborating with colleagues and external partners.
• Ability to work independently with hands-on skills, a proactive mindset, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No


Preferred Education/Experience

• Strong grasp of engineering principles, including chemical kinetics, heat and mass transfer, and thermodynamics, especially in process, chemical, and mechanical engineering.
• Experience with process integration, PFD and P&ID design, and reactor design using CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD);
• Demonstrated skills in process automation (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Python) and data analysis (Excel, Python, MATLAB).
• Proficiency in engineering software and process equipment (e.g., heat exchangers, pumps) and instrumentation (e.g., temperature, pressure, pH, flow).
• Knowledge of aqueous CO2 capture chemistry and familiarity with process unit operations.

Deadline to Apply
01/01/2025


Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.


As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.


Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.