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We’re hiring!

If you’re interested in joining the group for any of the positions listed below, please send an e-mail to capellades@rowan.edu including your CV and a cover letter explaining your background and motivation for doing research with us.

Rowan University’s policies on admissions and graduation requirements for the PhD program in Engineering are described here. I also encourage you to check on the

PhD Student – The Interplay Between Crystal Growth and Impurity Incorporation. A common challenge for the design of crystallization processes is the selection of appropriate conditions to control which foreign species incorporate to the crystalline phase, and to which extent. Ironically, the mechanisms of impurity incorporation are one of the least understood aspects of this separation process. This project utilizes high-throughput collection of experimental data for the development of novel predictive models for impurity incorporation during crystal growth. Results from this work will open the door to novel crystal engineering strategies for selective impurity rejection, crystal enrichment, and additive-based control of crystal quality attributes in organic molecular materials.

A strong candidate will have one or more of the following qualifications: (1) Prior research experience on solution crystallization, particulate process development, materials science, continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing, or a closely related field. (2) Familiarity with relevant analytical techniques including HPLC, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and in situ particle tracking. (3) Experience with mathematical modeling/process simulation software like MATLAB or gPROMS.

A strong commitment to developing a successful research career, including participation in technical seminars and publishing in peer-reviewed journals, is a necessary trait for this position. Good interpersonal skills, motivation to work in multidisciplinary projects with diverse teams, and proficiency in written and spoken English are required.

PhD Student – Solvent Effects on Crystallization Kinetics. Antisolvent addition is one of the most popular methods to induce crystallization in pharmaceutical processes. Traditionally, balancing the amounts of solvent and antisolvent in solution crystallization has been used to control solubility and maximize the attainable process yield. However, with a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which solvents affect crystallization, we would significantly expand the industrial design space and prevent many of the recurring issues in industrial crystallization. This project combines state-of-the-art fundamental knowledge on solution crystallization with high-throughput data collection for the development of model libraries to aid the rapid development of crystallization processes in ternary systems.

A strong candidate will have one or more of the following qualifications: (1) Prior research experience on solution crystallization, particulate process development, continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing, or a closely related field. (2) Familiarity with relevant analytical techniques including HPLC, optical microscopy, XRPD, and in situ particle tracking. (3) Experience with mathematical modeling/process simulation software like MATLAB or gPROMS.

A strong commitment to developing a successful research career, including participation in technical seminars and publishing in peer-reviewed journals, is a necessary trait for this position. Good interpersonal skills, motivation to work in multidisciplinary projects with diverse teams, and proficiency in written and spoken English are required.