Co-op Student in Plastics Circularity

In order to ensure your application is received by NAIT for thorough review and consideration, please apply directly through our Careers site at www.nait.ca/careers

Please Note: This is a casual opportunity beginning September 2, 2025, and ending on or before August 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension.

The Clean Technologies team at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) supports industry and community partners in achieving their sustainability goals through the development and application of technologies rooted in circular economic principles.

Led by Dr. Justice Asomaning, Ovintiv Applied Research Chair in Energy and Dr Xiaohua Kong, Applied Research Chair in Materials Circularity, The Clean Technologies team is a diverse, inclusive, highly multidisciplinary group of professionals and students with experience and backgrounds in environmental science, applied chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical engineering.

We are looking forward to welcoming two co-op students. Successful students will join our team and have an opportunity to learn and work on high-profile applied research projects that aim to develop a platform to create plastics materials that incorporate post-consumer recycled plastics, as well as solvent recycle post-consumer plastics including drinking pouch. The co-op students will learn and apply laboratory techniques required to characterize both virgin and post-consumer plastics industrial samples, laboratory-scale equipment to create new plastic materials, and techniques to test their chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties. These projects, funded by Heartland Polymers, Alberta Innovates, will also offer significant opportunities to learn and apply principles of experimental design and optimization, as well as data analysis. One of these projects is part of the Plastics Research in Action program. Find out more about the program here: https://www.nait.ca/pria

The ideal candidate will be an adventurous, highly motivated, team-oriented individual who thrives in a multidisciplinary supportive learning and working environment. Our team provides a highly inclusive team environment to all, and we seek an individual who is comfortable with failure, has patience, is tenacious, has a sense of humor, and is driven by passion for hands-on learning. Curious about what’s it like to be a student with our team? Check out these YouTube videos!

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare plastics samples through extrusion and or injection molding techniques for chemical, thermal, and mechanical analysis.
• Development of cleaning methods to facilitate downstream reuse/recycling of beehive foundations.
• Assist with the polymer processing, and characterization of polymer products using laboratory- based techniques such as:

• Write reports/presentations summarizing the data obtained using Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Communicate results and observations effectively between project teams and industry partners as needed.
• Assist team with method development and internal validation.
• Collaborate in meetings, troubleshooting activities, and prototype optimization.
• Acquire data and compile data in Excel.

Skills & Abilities:

• Willingness to learn
• Desire to challenge yourself
• Attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills are major assets.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to work full-time from Sep 2, 2025, to August 31, 2026.
• Must be enrolled at NAIT or other post-secondary institution (College, University or Polytechnic) in Nanotechnology, Chemical Technology, Chemical Engineering Technology, or equivalent programs.
• Experience and technical skills are considered secondary to the willingness to learn and the desire to challenge yourself.
  Understanding of lab safety guidelines and best practices including WHIMS, and Occupational Health & Safety guidelines considered an asset.
• Class 5 driver’s license and willingness to travel is an asset.

Applicants with education credentials earned outside of Canada should have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services or the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).

Remuneration: $17.48 - $21.69 per hour, plus 12% in lieu of statutory holidays and vacation accrual. (Classification – Student Research Assistant I).

This casual opportunity is covered by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Collective Agreement.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.

About NAIT

We are proud to have been named one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 14 consecutive years. Being part of a community that makes a difference in the lives of students, staff, industry clients and partners, NAIT’s culture reflects our shared values of respect, collaboration, celebration, creativity, and accountability.

NAIT supports a flexible work environment, enabling staff to request approval for on-campus, off-site, or hybrid work arrangements based on the nature of the role. Please note that remote positions require employees to reside within Canada.

NAIT is committed to fostering an environment that supports equity and cultivates inclusion through our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. We are a proud partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and Pride at Work Canada. While we encourage all qualified applicants to apply, only those being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations, please connect with us at [email protected].

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