Careers

The Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development is a regional center of excellence that advances the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, tackling the sustainability agenda through education, training, research and policy advisory. The Center has a focus on research and policy practice, delivering world-class programs to train students, practitioners and policy leaders on sustainable initiatives while working in collaboration with industry, government bodies, NGOs and universities worldwide, to develop solutions related to the SDGs.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a dynamic and talented individual to leverage on microplastic research (Generally Waste Management)

Principal responsibilities:

• Lead specific research projects being undertaken at JSC,
• Lead or support research projects involving the development and/or implementation of models related to microplastics.
• Independently perform data collection and analysis
• Support the ongoing research of the PI
• Write articles, op-eds articles and other outreach material; as part of projects or as an outcome of projects
• Plan, organize and execute programs and initiatives including seminars, workshops, conferences, forums, talks and executive training programs; including making presentations at and preparing reports for such programs and initiatives
• Other duties that may be assigned by the PI

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Applied Sciences or relevant degrees with a strong focus on waste management.
• An analytical thinker - able to derive insights from data, and apply analytical techniques to further enhance existing data
• Research experience is an advantage
• Proven success in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Highly self-motivated, self-directed, and attentive to detail
• Outstanding English oral and written communication skills. Full proficiency desirable in one or more other languages.

Salary and application:

Monthly payment of RM3200++ will be paid for successful candidate. The appointment is for 12 months and extendable to further 6 months. Email Professor Agamuthu (PI): profagamuthu@gmail.com OR agamutup@sunway.edu.my. We will contact only those candidates whose profile meets our requirements.

Sunway University, one of Malaysia’s leading private universities which is a strictly not-for-profit institution and dedicated to quality education, supporting enterprise, and undertaking research focused on key global problems. The University is based in Sunway City, a thriving green resort city built on reclaimed former tin-mining land, on the western side of Kuala Lumpur in the heart of the Klang Valley. The University is relatively young by global standards, but is already ranked within the top 2% of universities in the world (QS World University Rankings). In the 2022 edition, Sunway University is ranked no. 121 in the QS Asia University Rankings 2022, as well as being ranked within the top 150 universities in the world under 50 years old.

The University has a 5-star “excellent” rating by the Malaysian government (in the latest Setara assessment exercise), and is one of just eleven universities in Malaysia to be awarded the special “Premier Digital Technology University” status. We have developed close collaborations with many leading international universities including Harvard University and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. We also have a very close relationship with Lancaster University in the UK, enabling our students on many programmes to also qualify for Lancaster degrees.

Position Overview:

Senior Lecturers and Associate Professors are expected to provide leadership in and contribute to the teaching, research and general administration, support and management of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development (JSC) and the University. Academic staff members are also expected engage actively in activities to develop or enhance their teaching, research and/ or professional expertise relevant to their profession or discipline area.

The duties/responsibilities listed below describe the general nature of the role. The proportion of time spent on teaching, research and service (leadership, administration and management) will vary from individual to individual and from time to time; staff may be required to undertake other duties, commensurate with an academic position at the level of Associate Professor, depending on the needs of the Department/ School and individual strengths, such as participating in Open Days and outreach events.

At all times, staff are expected to behave in a professional and courteous manner, undertaking assigned duties to the best of their abilities, and adhering to the University’s codes of conduct, policies and practices.

Principal responsibilities:

Research

• Conduct research in relevant disciplines;
• Publish high quality journal articles, conference papers and/or other peer reviewed outputs as appropriate to the subject discipline;
• Secure funding to support their research;
• Supervise student research projects, including Doctoral and/or Masters students;
• Lead Research Centres and/or teams of other academic and research staff, ensuring that high quality research is carried out to the highest ethical standards in line with relevant University regulations, policies and procedures.
• Lead on and participate in collaborative research projects with colleagues both within and external to the University;
• Engage proactively with the wider research community in their fields of study, promoting their own research and the academic reputation of the University;

Teaching

• Design, plan and deliver lectures, tutorials and other teaching and learning activities appropriate to their discipline, and subject to the requirements of the University, including by electronic/online means;
• Assess student work and progress, providing constructive and timely feedback;
• Regularly review the effectiveness of their teaching, including use of feedback from students and colleagues, and proactively seek ways to improve the quality and effectiveness of their teaching;
• Initiate and lead on the design, development, delivery, review and enhancement of programmes of study within their Department/School;
• Invigilate examinations and assessments, moderate assessments papers, including second marking, and attend and contribute to Subject and Programme Boards;

Service

• Participate constructively in Department, School and/or University committees;
• Undertake leadership roles within the department and school, including the chairing of departmental- and/or school-level committees, and/or acting as a Head of Department, Program Leader or other equivalent roles*;
• Help to arrange and participate in internal and external events, such as open days, outreach activities, and visits to partner institutions and internship placements;
• Support and assist colleagues in ensuring the smooth running of the department and programmes;
• Provide academic counselling to students, referring them to other support services as required;
• Mentor junior staff;
• Staff may be required to take on major administrative roles, e.g. Programme Leaders.

Key Selection Criteria:

• PhD in a field relevant to renewable energy, mineral mining, meteorology or oceanography strongly preferred, in that order.
• Good track record of research and publications.
• Notable history of teaching taught courses as well as previously graduated Masters level research students is a must.
• Proven management and leadership skills in a teaching program of an educational institution would be very desirable.
• Excellent understanding of the Malaysian and regional research and education environment and landscape.
• Highly developed skills in people management.
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize proposals and make necessary recommendations independently
• Strong ability to develop, implement and review administrative processes and policies with a commitment towards service excellence.
• Willing to work on weekends when required, with replacement days off (i.e. Open Days), bearing in mind that the taught programs in the centers are run primarily on weekends.