We value a diverse range of skills, attitudes, abilities, and personality traits (in addition to technical skills and past accomplishments in research) and aim to attract a wide pool of applicants to our lab. For example: willingness to collaborate, listening with genuine interest, leadership in and out of the lab, the ability to value the contributions of others and celebrate our uniquenesses are high on our “priority list”! We also appreciate those who are direct, confident, ambitious, wise and strategic but can do so as team players. Be sure to include both hard and soft skills, interests, and approach to work-life balance in your email application.
For graduate positions you must apply officially to UBC and be aware that I hire through both Wood Science (Forestry) and Chemical & Biological Engineering (APSC) – the admission and program requirements in these two departments are different so please explore them prior to applying. I also pay special attention to applicants that reach out through the “Supervisory Enquiry” button at https://www.grad.ubc.ca/researcher/17315-cranston.
Requirements for all positions:
- Graduate student applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements for admission established by the UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies office (and departmental requirements).
- Postdoctoral applicants must provide proof of degrees obtained and academic transcripts.
- All applicants must meet eligibility requirements to live and study in Canada.
The Cranston Research Group is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. All suitable applicants are encouraged to apply.
Open positions – September 2021 to September 2022
Graduate Student Positions (more details at bottom of page):
- PhD/MASc project: Developing a green surface modification method for cellulose nanocrystals using tailor-made carbohydrate modifiers.
- PhD project: Advanced modes of the atomic force microscope (forces, adhesion, friction) applied to cellulose nanocrystal-based materials.
- PhD project: Fundamentals of cellulose nanocrystal Pickering emulsions explored through acoustic levitation, magnetic fields, and atomic force microscopy.
- PhD/MASc project: Liquid crystalline behavior of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals produced following various routes.
Post-doctoral Positions: None.
Undergraduate Summer Students: Canadian undergraduate students eligible for NSERC USRA scholarships are welcome to apply. We are interested in those studying chemical/materials/bio/nano engineering, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, wood science and other diverse educational backgrounds but you must be comfortable working independently in a materials chemistry lab. Please get in touch by email by February for May positions.
International Internship Positions: Due to COVID19 travel restrictions and limited lab capacity as a result of COVID19 lab protocols, we will not be hiring short term international students or allowing for international visitors until after September 2022. This includes visiting professors and self-funded graduate students.
We will update this page when new positions are available and do our best to share other open positions in our research community through Twitter (follow us @CranstonLab).
More details on graduate student projects –
- PhD/MASc project: Developing a green surface modification method for cellulose nanocrystals using tailor-made carbohydrate modifiers.
The aim of the project is to develop a library of carbohydrate modifiers to produce cellulose nanocrystals with tunable physicochemical properties. The main goals of the project will be to understand the fundamental interactions required for a successful surface modification, develop and prepare surface modifiers, prepare surface modified cellulose nanocrystals, and carry out high-precision nanoparticle characterization. These results will help expand cellulose nanocrystal use in composites, liquid-formulated products, food, cosmetics, sensors, etc. The successful candidate is expected to present project results at collaborator meetings, at national and international conferences, publish their work in relevant scientific journals, and write a thesis to complete their degree.
The ideal candidate will have:
– Experience with polymer synthesis and characterization
– Firm understanding of interface and colloid science
– Experience in nanoparticle characterization is considered an asset
– Strong computational and analytical skills
– Excellent communication and writing skills in English
- PhD project: Advanced modes of the atomic force microscope (forces, adhesion, friction) applied to cellulose nanocrystal-based materials.
The aim of the project is to use the high-resolution/high speed Jupiter XR atomic force microscope to study a range of cellulose nanocrystals (and surface modified cellulose nanocrystals) to better understand their interfacial properties. Specifically, nanotribology (friction) of cellulose nanocrystal films and suspensions will be compared to micro/macroscopic characterization. The ability to control cellulose nanocrystal tribology may extend their applications in cosmetics, pharmaceutics, food and nano/micro-electro mechanical devices. Similarly, forces between cellulose nanocrystals and adhesive properties of cellulose nanocrystals-latex blends will be studied for applications in pressure sensitive adhesives. The successful candidate is expected to present project results at collaborator meetings, at national and international conferences, publish their work in relevant scientific journals, and write a thesis to complete their degree.
The ideal candidate will have:
– Experience with nanomaterial characterization
– Some hands-on experience with an atomic force microscope
– Firm understanding of colloid/interface science and surface forces
– Background in physics, chemistry, chemical/materials/nano/mechanical engineering
– Strong computational, programming and analytical skills
– Excellent communication and writing skills in English
- PhD project: Fundamentals of cellulose nanocrystal Pickering emulsions explored through acoustic levitation, magnetic fields, and atomic force microscopy.
This project’s goal is to explore fundamentals of Pickering emulsions and the range of properties achievable using cellulose nanocrystals. The effects of salt, aggregation, oil type, magnetic fields and co-stabilizers on emulsion stability, controlled release and “shell” mechanical properties will be elucidated. Different processing routes to produce emulsions with intended food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, industrial processing fluids etc. will be tested. Extensive characterization of multiphase liquids and interfacial properties will be carried out and acoustic levitation, interfacial rheology/pendant drop surface tension, and atomic force microscopy measurements will be employed to better understand droplets. The successful candidate is expected to present project results at collaborator meetings, at national and international conferences, publish their work in relevant scientific journals, and write a thesis to complete their degree.
The ideal candidate will have:
– Wet-lab experience preparing solutions/suspensions/emulsions
– Firm understanding of interfacial phenomena
– Experience with nanomaterial production and characterization including advanced microscopy
– Background in chemical/materials/nano engineering with strong physical chemistry skills
– Experience with processing equipment (e.g. homogenizer, high shear mixer, sonicator) is an asset
– Strong computational, programming and analytical skills
– Excellent communication and writing skills in English
- PhD/MASc project: Liquid crystalline behavior of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals produced following various routes.
The project aim is to produce carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals using different methods available in the scientific literature (e.g. oxidation and acid hydrolysis) and study their self-assembly, liquid crystalline and optical properties for applications in decorative coatings, anti-counterfeiting devices, sensors and templates. Specifically, lyotropic chiral nematic liquid crystals can be obtained from carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals but their phase separation, rheology and tactoid formation/development are different from typical sulfated cellulose nanocrystals. This behavior leads to materials with brilliant iridescence and enhanced mechanical properties because of the arrangement of nanoparticles in the dried form. Methods to enhance and track the ordering/alignment of cellulose nanocrystals will be developed and characterization may include polarized optical microscopy, scattering, buckling, instron testing, electron and atomic force microscopy. The successful candidate is expected to present project results at collaborator meetings, at national and international conferences, publish their work in relevant scientific journals, and write a thesis to complete their degree.
The ideal candidate will have:
– Experience with optical microscopy and advanced (electron/atomic force) microscopy
– Some hands-on experience in a chemistry wet-lab and willingness to synthesize nanoparticles
– Knowledge of optics and liquid crystals and scattering techniques is an asset
– Firm understanding of colloid/interface science and nanoscience
– Background in physics, chemistry, chemical/materials/nano engineering
– Strong problem solving and analytical skills
– Excellent communication and writing skills in English