Research Associate (I)
Materials Science & Engineering
(JD00550)
Engineering a Brighter Future
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/
About the Faculty
Ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and worldwide, the Faculty of Engineering has a reputation for innovative programs, cutting-edge research, leading faculty, and aspiring students. Engineering faculty, staff, and students at McMaster pursue research and learning in more than 22 research centres, institutes and networks whose interdisciplinary pursuits cross-departmental and faculty boundaries. Outside the University, we regularly collaborate on research projects with partners in universities, the government and more than 100 companies in Canada and abroad.
About the Department
Located within a globally recognized engineering faculty, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering is renowned for its expertise in metals and materials processing and its long-standing partnerships with industry. Research in the department addresses key challenges in steel production and advanced manufacturing, with active projects focused on clean steel technologies, decarbonization, process modeling, inclusion engineering, and alloy solidification. Collaborations with partners in Canada, the United States, and beyond ensure that the department’s work remains both industrially relevant and globally impactful.
About the Position
We welcome applications for the position of Research Associate (I) to support active, multi-partner research programs focused on high temperature steel production and processing. Many of these projects are carried out in collaboration with the McMaster Steel Research Centre (SRC), a long-standing leader in industry-partnered research and innovation. Areas of research include computational and experimental studies on hydrogen-based reduction of iron ore, clean steelmaking practices, ladle metallurgy, inclusion characterization and control, macro- and microsegregation during continuous casting, solidification science, and the thermo-kinetics of precipitation and ductility loss.
The Research Associate will be responsible for planning, managing, and executing laboratory-scale experimental programs within a large, multi-site, and multi-disciplinary research initiative. This includes designing high-temperature process studies, commissioning and maintaining specialized equipment, interpreting data, mentoring graduate students, and contributing to effective knowledge transfer with industry partners. The role offers the opportunity to lead or co-lead research efforts, develop collaborations with academic and industrial stakeholders, and contribute to applied innovation that enhances the competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s steel industry.
Job Summary
Responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing a large, multi-site, multi-disciplinary research program, with the potential to compose, lead, and conduct research as an independent investigator or as a co-investigator within a faculty member's program. Develop collaborations and partnerships with research user groups to help shape research directions and ensure effective research transfer.
Representative Duties & Responsibilities
- Initiate, design, and lead a research program.
- Formulate research questions and generate and test hypotheses.
- Make significant contributions to the design of a research program to answer questions and solve complex research problems.
- Publish results as first author in scientific peer-reviewed journals.
- Author scientific papers, funding proposals, and abstracts.
- Write research proposals, submit proposals to external funding agencies, and secure funding to conduct research through grants and contracts.
- Plan and coordinate all aspects of a major research program across multiple sites.
- Develop inter-disciplinary, inter-institutional, and inter-sectoral research collaborations.
- Negotiate research agreements and subcontracts to meet site and coordinating centre requirements.
- Develop budget for a research program.
- Implement and maintain a research program budget. Create financial projections and make adjustments to a research program budget throughout the fiscal year.
- Troubleshoot problems at all stages of program development and implementation and modify protocol or program procedures to address challenges.
- Participate with a team in the development and authoring of research protocols.
- Design a promotional strategy and related materials to encourage participation and support for a research program.
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative program participant interviews.
- Facilitate focus group sessions with program participants.
- Coordinate and manage the collection, delivery, entry, verification, analysis, and reporting of data.
- Oversee the design of data management systems.
- Apply specialized knowledge and scientific principles to review, critically appraise and interpret published literature.
- Develop estimates of time and resources for a research program.
- Use statistical software to analyze complex data and interpret results.
- Liaise between the program centre and remote program sites and personnel.
- Develop presentations, and present at meetings, seminars, and conferences.
- Conduct literature searches.
Supervision
- Provide lead hand supervision and is responsible for the quality and quantity of work of others.
- Ongoing responsibility for supervising up to 9 casual employees at any one time.
Qualifications
- Doctoral degree in a relevant field of study.
- Requires 7 years of relevant experience.
Assets
- Previous experience working at McMaster University is a definite asset.
- Experience working in or collaborating with the Steel Research Centre (SRC) or similar industrially partnered research organizations is considered a strong asset.
Additional Information
The successful candidate must have and/or demonstrate:
- A doctoral degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Strong knowledge of iron and steelmaking processes, such as primary steel production, secondary metallurgy, and continuous casting.
- Experience applying this knowledge in laboratory or pilot-scale environments, including work with high-temperature experimental setups.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal abilities and professionalism in collaborative environments.
- The capacity to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines in a fast-paced setting.
- Initiative, reliability, and adaptability in addressing complex technical and project-related challenges.
- High attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of work, including documentation and reporting.
- Sound judgment, integrity, and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
- Experience managing multiple research projects and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including academic and industrial partners.
- Experience supporting researchers or a research group in a dynamic environment.
- A strong record of written and oral communication, including peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and industry presentations.
- Ability to contribute to grant writing, project proposals, or industry reports.
- Experience mentoring graduate students and fostering a productive, supportive research environment.
Should the successful applicant be a Unifor Unit 1 bargaining unit member, who meets the eligibility conditions of Article 19.02 of the Unifor Unit 1 Collective Agreement, then the Limited Term Assignment will be defined as a Career Growth Opportunity in accordance with Article 19 of the Unifor Local 5555 Unit 1 Collective Agreement.
To apply for this job, please submit your application online.
McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.
The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.
The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.
As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.
Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:
- Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
- Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
- School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679
to communicate accommodation needs.
At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.