Assistant or Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering

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POSITION SPECIFICS

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a tenure-line faculty position in the area of electroceramic materials processing. The position will be filled at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, depending on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. The expected start date is July 1, 2026. While the intent is to make a single hire, exceptionally qualified candidates may prompt the department to make up to two faculty appointments as part of this search.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering or a closely related field by the time of appointment. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program; teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; and contribute to service within the university and the profession. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research focuses on the processing of electroceramic materials and who can complement or expand upon existing departmental strengths.

Penn State is one of the nation's leading materials research institutions. The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) is home to 33 faculty members, 155 graduate students, and 176 undergraduate students. The department is housed in the recently renovated $52 million Steidle Building, which offers cutting-edge laboratories, educational spaces, and offices. In FY24, research expenditures totaled more than $17.1 million. The department benefits from a rich ecosystem of interdisciplinary collaboration, with access to premier facilities housed within the Millennium Science Complex, including those supported by the Materials Research Institute for characterization, synthesis, nanofabrication, and computation.

Penn State also hosts a wide range of federally and industry-sponsored research centers, including the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), the NSF Materials Innovation Platform (MIP), the Center for Dielectric and Piezoelectrics (CDP), the Center for Two-Dimensional and Layered Materials (2DLM), and multiple Department of Defense and Department of Energy initiatives. Faculty have the opportunity to collaborate across the university through interdisciplinary research institutes such as the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS), the Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE), and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.

Candidates will be considered for a rank commensurate with their qualifications.

Competitive applicants for the rank of Assistant Professor will possess a Ph.D. degree in a discipline related to their research area before beginning employment at Penn State, a strong potential for developing an externally funded experimental or computational research program that strengthens MatSE's core interdisciplinary research areas, and a demonstrated interest in and ability to educate and mentor students, advise graduate students, teach courses across our MatSE undergraduate and graduate programs, and contribute service to the Department, College, and University.

Candidates for the rank of Associate Professor should possess the same qualifications as Assistant Professor as well as demonstrate excellence in teaching and mentoring, a strong research and publication track record, and an established reputation in scholarly or professional achievement. The successful candidate will assume a key role in advancing interdisciplinary research, serving as a collaborative leader who drives innovation and excellence.

To apply, candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of research vision, a teaching statement, and the names and contact information for five references via the Penn State employment website at psu.jobs. Inquiries and nominations should be directed to Prof. Susan Trolier-McKinstry, Chair of the Search Committee, via Ms. Peg Yetter at may14@psu.edu. Review of applications will begin on September 1, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. For more information about the Department, please visit www.matse.psu.edu.

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