XJTLU

Faculty Position in Chemistry and Materials Science

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Department of Chemistry

Position Overview

DEPARTMENT: Chemistry and Materials Science/ School of Sciences 

ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE: Chemistry and Material science 

POSITION TITLE: Open rank faculty appointment 

CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-Term/3-year contract, renewable. The 3rd contract is open-ended

ABOUT XJTLU 

In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site will be a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model.

With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from west and east.

For detailed information about the university, please visit the university website: www.xjtlu.edu.cn.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT 

The Department belongs to the School of Science and focuses on Chemistry and Materials Science. It has recruited faculty from globally distinguished institutions working in these disciplines. Although relatively young, the Department has already established a solid reputation, as indicated by its large number of high quality research publications in impactful journals (Q1),  growing number of grant awards to its staff (e.g., from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and major industry partners) and national and international research collaborations. It has state-of-the-art instrumentation housed in custom-built labs, and provides excellent technical support. Current research areas include: Advanced materials, High-performance batteries and supercapacitors, Nano porous materials, Microfluidic-based biosensors, Nano-electrocatalysts - Energy nanomaterials, Biomaterials and their biomedical applications, High-throughput screening, Carbohydrates Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, and AI/Robotics for Chemistry among others. The Department is dedicated to providing an international environment for both teaching and research, with around half of its academic staff born out of mainland China. The Department also collaborates closely with the newly established Advanced Materials Research Center (AMRC), a university-level research center specialized in the development and application of novel materials.

The academic unit was first established in 2010 as the Department of Chemistry and recently was renamed into the Department of Chemistry and Materials Science to better describe its growing work and impact in the two fields. The Department currently delivers one undergraduate BSc programme in ‘Applied Chemistry’ and a BEng programme in ‘Materials Science and Engineering’ expected to start in September of 2025, two Master programmes ‘MRes in Advanced Chemistry’ and ‘MRes in Materials Science and Engineering’ and a ‘PhD in Chemistry.’ In 2017 our BSc in Applied Chemistry programme was accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the first RSC accreditation of its kind in China. 

Staff also benefit from the fact that Suzhou is a ‘hot-spot’ for biotechnology/biomedical science and materials science research and entrepreneurship. Cold Spring Harbor Asia (http://www.csh-asia.org/index.html) is located within walking distance and there are over 1000 biotechnology companies in BioBay (http://en.biobay.com.cn/main/index.asp) providing ample industry collaboration and entrepreneurship opportunities. 

As a state-level economic and technical development zone (ETDZ), Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) boasted a  No.1 ranking among 218 zones of its kind in China for five consecutive years (2016-2020) by the Ministry of Commerce based on the zone’s comprehensive development level. The broader Suzhou area encompasses the spirit of both old and new in China, with the historic old town’s canals, UNESCO World Heritage Site gardens, and the I.M Pei-designed Suzhou Museum attracting millions of tourists annually. SIP offers an excellent quality of life. The nearby Jinji Lake provides attractive views, by day and  night, and there are a variety of shopping facilities, international and local restaurants, entertainment hubs and a great nightlife.  Suzhou became the world's largest industrial city in 2021, with the gross industrial output value reaching the milestone of 4 trillion RMB. 

For more information: https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/study/departments/school-of-science/chemistry-and-materials-science

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

  • To teach undergraduate and graduate students
  • To maintain active and productive research and obtain research funding 
  • To carry out various administrative duties related to university teaching and research     (e.g., Research Officer, Lab Safety Officer, and Examination Officer etc.)
  • To supervise graduate students and support teaching and research staff
  • To establish an innovative and well-funded research group that is open to interdisciplinary collaboration that yields productive research outcomes. 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

  • Effective communication skills; fluent in written and spoken English
  • Problem-solving/creativity 
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Professionalism and work ethic
  • Interpersonal abilities to manage a research team
  • Positive attitude
  • Diversity / Sensitivity

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES

Essential Requirements:

PhD Degree: A PhD degree in Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, Materials Science, Computational Chemistry, or a related discipline is required.

Teaching Experience: Demonstrated teaching experience or strong potential for effective teaching.

Research Publications: Proven track record of high-quality, high-impact research publications.

Preferred Qualifications:

Field of Expertise: Priority will be given to candidates with expertise in Computational Chemistry/Materials Science or AI/Robotics-related research in Chemistry/Materials Science.

Current Position: Candidates currently holding the position of Assistant Professor or above will be prioritized.

Research Leadership: Active engagement at the forefront of Chemistry and/or Materials Science, with a strong international research profile.

Funding Success: A successful history of securing external research funding.

Academic Supervision: Demonstrated ability in academic supervision and mentoring of UG and PG students.

The ideal candidate will combine excellence in both teaching and research, with a commitment to advancing knowledge in their field through innovative approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration.

CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labour Laws, and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas.  Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

  1. Clear career development path with annual review.
  2. Professional development training is provided.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

SALARY: Competitive salary in the market

BENEFITS:

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances such as 

  • Housing allowance
  • Travel allowance
  • Kids’ education allowance
  • Relocation allowance
  • Etc.

2. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members (for details please refer to the University Policy).

3. Paid holidays: 

  • Statutory Holidays (13 days)
  • Annual Leave (34 days)
  • Family Matters Leave
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Marriage Leave
  • Paternity Leave
  • Parental Leave
  • Etc.

4. Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application on our university website

Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes the following three parts in the order:

  • A cover letter 
  • A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
  • Contact details for three referees 

For enquiries relating to the position, please email acting Head of Department, Dr. Lifeng Ding, Lifeng.Ding@xjtlu.edu.cn and copy HR at Zhi.Yang@xjtlu.edu.cn

Please quote the position and job ID in your enquiry.