Assistant Professor in Semiconductor Innovation

ACS; Portland, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Portland State University invites applications for two tenure-track assistant professor positions in a coordinated cluster hire on the co-design of semiconductor devices, circuits, and/or computing architectures with and for artificial intelligence. The tenure home is negotiated with the participating departments and promotion/tenure review resides in the home department.

The hires will contribute to the FAST NSF Regional Innovation Engine and the new Semiconductor Innovation and Nanoscience

Qualifications

• A doctorate degree in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or computer engineering, or a closely related field.
• Non-Ph.D. applicants will be required to have completed the Ph.D. by September 15, 2027.

Responsibilities

• Establish externally funded, internationally visible research programs aligned with FAST and SINC priorities.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the home department.
• Supervise doctoral, master's, and undergraduate researchers.
• Provide service to the department, the university, and the profession.

Education

PhD in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or computer engineering

Job description

Position Summary

Portland State University invites applications for two tenure-track assistant professor positions in a coordinated cluster hire on the co-design of semiconductor devices, circuits, and/or computing architectures with and for artificial intelligence. Each successful candidate will select a tenure home in the Department of Physics, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, or the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. The tenure home is negotiated at the time of offer, and promotion and tenure review resides in the home department under criteria agreed in writing by the participating departments before the search concludes.

The positions anchor Portland State’s role in the Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST) NSF Regional Innovation Engine and in the new university Semiconductor Innovation and Nanoscience Center (SINC). PSU co-leads the FAST research thrust on advancing chip co-design with AI automation and contributes to the thrusts on photoresists for EUV lithography, AI in metrology and test, and AI for design validation and verification. The hires are expected to build on resources and facilities of the new SINC center, which includes the Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrication (CEMN), PSU’s shared facility for nanoscale imaging, metrology, and fabrication. As an ideal candidate, you can think, design, simulate, and build across the entire compute stack.

Instructional Activities

We consider teaching and student learning our core mission; excellence in all teaching is expected. The teaching load at present is up to 24 credits per year, although this may vary depending on research activity and home department. Specific courses will be assigned by the Home Department Chair after consulting with you and other faculty in the department. Initially, your teaching responsibilities will be less than the normal load. You will be assigned a regular teaching load thereafter, with the possibility of course buyouts.

Research/Scholarly Activities

The position will establish externally funded, internationally visible research programs consistent with the theme above; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the home department; supervise doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate researchers; and provide service to the department, the university, and the profession. You are expected to establish and maintain an active research program aligned with FAST and SINC priorities. You are expected to obtain external research funding, supervise undergraduate and graduate student research, and disseminate the results and findings of your research in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

A doctorate degree, completed by the start date, in physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical, electrical or computer engineering or a closely related field. Non-Ph.D. applicants will be required to have completed the Ph.D. by September 15, 2027.