RESEARCH ASSISTANT (PART TIME)-COLLIER GROUP

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Research Assistant (Part Time)-Collier Group.

JOB SUMMARY

The research assistant supports ongoing work in polymer synthesis, materials characterization, and data analysis, and helps coordinate the group’s research activities. The role involves hands-on experimental work, data interpretation, and contributions to scientific outputs, including reports and publications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Polymer Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, or a closely related discipline and demonstrated experience with organic chemistry laboratory techniques, such as synthesis, purification (e.g., distillation, chromatography), and characterization (e.g., NMR, FTIR).The candidate is expected to be self-motivated and capable of working collaboratively in a team environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Understands basic concepts in polymer and organic chemistry.
• Performs common lab procedures and has some experience with instruments like NMR, FTIR, or DSC.
• Keeps accurate notes during experiments and helps prepare basic reports.
• Willing to learn new techniques and assists with organizing and reviewing data.
• Works independently and communicates well with others in a team setting.
• Stays organized, motivated, and contributes reliably to group research efforts.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in one or more of the following experiment techniques would be preferred: cyclic voltammetry, fluorescence microscopy, organic electronics.

• Conducts the synthesis and chemical modification of commodity polymers using established and experimental methods. Optimizes reaction parameters and maintains consistency across multiple batches of materials.
• Carries out physical and chemical characterization of polymers, including morphological and thermal analysis. Uses instrumentation such as FTIR, NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA to gather and interpret data relevant to structure-property relationships.
• Contributes to the preparation of technical reports, research proposals, manuscripts for publication, and presentation materials. Maintains detailed records of experimental procedures, observations, and results in lab notebooks and digital formats.
• Participates in collaborative projects with external partners. May travel to national laboratories, user facilities, or scientific conferences for experimental work or to support dissemination of research findings.
• Assists in managing laboratory operations, including inventory, ordering, and maintenance of equipment. May provide guidance or training to new lab members or students involved in the group’s projects.
• Performs other duties as assigned.