The Soft Matter Lab at Rowan University, led by Assistant Professor Xiaohui Xu, is recruiting a fully funded postdoctoral researcher and a fully funded PhD student. The lab is part of the Department of Chemical Engineering and focuses on the development of advanced soft materials and polymers for sustainability applications. Research areas include water purification, mineral extraction, flexible energy storage, and the design of functional gels and membranes for environmental and energy systems.

Current projects span solar absorber gels for water purification, ion-selective polymer membranes for mineral recovery, eutectogels for supercapacitors and batteries, and stimulus-responsive hydrogel actuators for soft robotics. The group integrates polymer chemistry, environmental engineering, and materials science to create scalable, sustainable technologies. The lab’s work is highly interdisciplinary, combining chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, and environmental science.

Applicants for the postdoctoral position should have a PhD in chemical engineering, materials science, environmental engineering, or a related field, with experience in polymer or hydrogel synthesis, membrane design, or battery/supercapacitor research considered a plus. PhD applicants should have a background in chemical engineering, chemistry, or related fields; prior research experience in polymers or soft materials is helpful but not required. Both positions are fully funded, with stipends and tuition covered for the PhD student and salary for the postdoc.

Interested candidates should email Professor Xu at [email protected] with a cover letter and CV. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. More information about the lab and its research can be found at thesoftmatterlab.com.

Keywords: soft materials, polymers, sustainability, water purification, mineral extraction, energy storage, hydrogels, membranes, battery research, supercapacitors.