Postdoctoral Scholar - Materials Science and Engineering

The Pennsylvania State University
remote work
United States, Pennsylvania, University Park
201 Old Main (Show on map)
Oct 20, 2025
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the termlengthdiscussed willbebasedonuniversityneed,performance,and/oravailabilityoffunding. POSITION SPECIFICS The Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is seeking a postdoctoral scholar. The final candidate will: work in close collaboration with our polymer crystallization team, including Prof. Ralph Colby and Profs. Alicyn Rhoades and Xiaoshi Zhang at Penn State, Erie-Behrend. The candidate will need considerable expertise in polymer melt rheology, flow birefringence, characterization and modelling of crystallization kinetics with and without prior shear flow. Being able to properly analyze birefringence data and 2-dimensional X-ray scattering from sheared semicrystalline polymers is required for consideration for this position. The candidate must also supervise about ten undergraduate researchers currently working on this project. Job duties and responsibilities Plan and perform experiments on flow-induced chain alignment and subsequent crystallization of sheared polymer melts. Supervise many undergraduate researchers. Analyze data and train undergraduate students to analyze data. Report biweekly to SKF scientists. Write papers and proposals for new funding. Must have a Ph.D. in: Materials Science and Engineering or Chemical Engineering Should have experience in: Birefringence, melt rheology, crystallization, calorimetry, X-ray scattering BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. BENEFITS Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here. EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines