Faculty Position in Materials Science & Engineering

Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering

Statement of Duties:

The successful candidate will be responsible for carrying out research, teaching, and service while building a vibrant research program that contributes to the department's mission.

Minimum Quantifications and Other Credentials:

• A PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field by the time of appointment

• A robust research and publication record of accomplishment

Rank/Title:

Assistant or Associate Professor

Information on Position:

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position to be filled at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, with the appointment rank commensurate with qualifications and experience, beginning September 1, 2027. Candidates are sought who develop and apply multimodal, in situ and operando X-ray characterization methods, including diffraction, spectroscopy, microscopy, and coherence-based techniques; outstanding candidates advancing complementary electron-based characterization methods will also be considered. We seek researchers developing frontier X-ray science methods to probe material structure and behavior across length and time scales under realistic operating conditions, with applications including human health, energy conversion and storage, and national security. Of particular interest are experimental programs that leverage advances in physics-informed artificial intelligence, scientific machine learning, autonomous control, or real-time feedback to guide experiments and enable the co-design of materials and manufacturing processes. Strong interest in and evidence of collaboration with national laboratories and/or industry partners is also desirable. The successful candidate will be responsible for carrying out research, teaching, and service while building a vibrant research program that contributes to the department's mission.

The first academic department of its kind in the world, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University leads the field in materials innovation and education. Driven by curiosity and the thrill of discovery, faculty members use a transdisciplinary approach to connect fundamental science with engineering research, enabling technologies that improve our lives. The MSE Department consists of 35 faculty members and over 190 PhD students, 80 MS students, 100 post-doctoral scholars, and 135 undergraduates. Research programs span many sub-disciplines of materials science and engineering that extend beyond traditional MSE boundaries with more than $42 million in research expenditures in FY2025. Faculty collaborate across departments in the McCormick School of Engineering, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and the Feinberg School of Medicine and outside institutions, such as the Art Institute of Chicago and nearby national laboratories, including Argonne National Laboratory, home of the Advanced Photon Source and the Center for Nanoscale Materials, and Fermilab, home of America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory. The MSE Department is home to state-of-the-art facilities for characterization, synthesis, and nanofabrication and incubates interdisciplinary collaborations through convergence research. The MSE Department anchors key federally and privately sponsored centers and institutes, including the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB), International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN), Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and the Querrey InQbation Lab.

Proposed Start Date:

September 1, 2027 (negotiable)

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications:

Application review will begin on November 21, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Contact Info (including where applicant should send package):

Please submit applications online at https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/materials-science/careers/

For more information about the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, visit our website at https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/materials-science.

Address all inquiries to Professor Lincoln Lauhon, Chair of the Search Committee or MJ Ray, Coordinator of the Search Committee at msefacsearch@northwestern.edu.

Application Materials:

Applicants must apply online and upload the following application materials:

• A Cover Letter (1-page limit) that summarizes the applicant's (i) research and teaching accomplishments, (ii) vision for their future research program and its connection to activities ongoing at Northwestern, and (iii) approach to contributing to a vibrant learning environment

• Curriculum Vitae

• Research Statement (5-page limit)

• Teaching Experience and Mentoring Statement (2-page limit)

• 3 Letters of Recommendation (Recommendation letters will be automatically solicited from the letter writers by email after their names are entered in the online application system. Letters are required by the time of application review.)

Compensation

The expected base pay range for this position at the Assistant Professor level is $133,000 - $143,000 and at the Associate Professor level is $145,000 - $158,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation. Sponsorship for an H-1B visa may be available for qualified candidates, subject to institutional policies and applicable immigration regulations.

Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal competitors; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at Northwestern Benefits to learn more.

Please read ALL instructions and make preparations before proceeding to the application page:

• Applications will only be accepted via online submission (see link below).
• Please prepare all documents in advance as Adobe PDF files, and please be sure all information is entered correctly and accurately (especially names and email addresses), as there will be no opportunity for online revision after your application has been submitted.
• Please also prepare a list of names and email addresses for your external academic references; your references will be contacted directly by the online system and invited to upload their letters on your behalf.
• All required fields in the application form are marked with an asterisk and must be filled before clicking the "Submit" button.
• Be aware that incomplete applications cannot be saved.

Applications accepted here: Apply for Job

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.