The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is engaged in an aggressive, multi-year hiring effort for multiple tenure-track assistant professors whose interests are aligned with the School of Engineering and Applied Science’s strategic plan.

Applicants from all materials-related research areas are invited to apply, especially those with expertise in (1) electronic and optical materials for quantum information science and engineering and (2) materials for health science and engineering.  

Exceptional applicants for tenured associate and full professor positions may also be considered. We welcome diverse candidates who will reflect the makeup of our society, enrich our intellectual community, and enhance the education, training and mentorship of our students.

Quantum Materials:  Discovery and engineering of new materials along with novel device platforms will be the core enablers of any quantum technology. For example, atomically precise materials growth with control over stoichiometry and defects, bonding, crystal structure, and dimensionality will be required to create deterministic sources of entangled quantum states. Great strides made in recent years in materials and devices involve the appreciation of the unique role of the geometry and topology of electronic bands and symmetry breaking fields to create quantum states with unprecedented electronic and optoelectronic responses. These topological materials can enable robust transport of quantum information with no loss of quantum phase and for sensing the information with high fidelity. New material systems and their heterogeneous integration into precisely controlled architectures can lead to novel platforms for quantum simulation applications. Simultaneously, development of new probes for local and global property measurements is required to accurately characterize new materials and devices and measure the quantum states as they are prepared, manipulated and transported. Foundational research on new and emerging quantum materials, characterization and their integration into novel devices will have a significant impact in ushering in a new era of transformational quantum technologies. We seek candidates with expertise in the areas of materials design and engineering, growth and characterization of their novel structures and properties to create new device paradigms with innovative functionalities for future quantum technologies.  Prof. Ritesh Agarwal chairs this search committee in coordination with Penn Engineering school-wide Quantum Cluster Search Initiative.

Materials for the Health Sciences and Engineering:  Materials continue to enable innovation in the health sciences, particularly in the areas of medical and dental implantable devices, advanced imaging and sensing, injury reduction, and stimulating tissue regeneration, formation and repair.  By the judicious design of the chemical compositions, materials processing methods, investigation of structure-property relationship at micro- and nanoscale, and control of surface/interfaces, unique combinations of properties and functionalities are attained.  Materials performance can be advanced by interfacing with biological components, including cells and proteins, and drawing inspiration from nature.  Fundamental materials research will ignite future breakthroughs in the healthcare community including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, therapeutic delivery, control of immune response, regulation of metabolism, advancing neural technologies in the context of the brain initiative, diagnosis and repair of injuries, and next-generation imaging and sensing devices. The precisely engineered materials will offer new opportunities for modeling diseases and organ proxies, and for building devices that will enable translational research.  Prof. Vivek Shenoy chairs this search committee in the context of the newly established Center for Precision Engineering for Health at Penn Engineering.

Review of applications will begin immediately with a target deadline of December 1, 2021. Candidates are encouraged to apply early in order to be given full consideration. Applications must be submitted online via Interfolio.

PhD in materials science and engineering or related discipline

Applications must be submitted online via Interfolio. Applications include:

Cover Letter

Curriculum vitae

Research statement (5-page limit)

Teaching statement (2-page limit)

Diversity statement

Contact information for 3 references who could provide letters of recommendation.