Assistant Professor of Advanced Materials

Rice University; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) at Rice University, located in Houston, TX, seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in advanced computational and/or AI/ML-informed materials research with a start date in 2027.

We welcome research spanning materials science, including soft/hard matter and inorganic/organic systems, aligned to RAMI core areas such as electronics, energy, or environmental materials.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a field closely related to materials science by July 1, 2027
• Experience in theoretical, computational, modeling, or simulation approaches in materials science
• Strong commitment to teaching, mentoring, and service to a diverse student body

Responsibilities

• Teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses in a home department
• Establish an active, externally funded research program
• Collaborate across Rice's RAMI, engineering, natural sciences, and other departments

Job description

Assistant Professor of Advanced Materials

Tenure-Track Faculty Opening with the Rice Advanced MaterialsInstitute

School of Engineering and Computing and the School of NaturalSciences at Rice University

https://rami.rice.edu/

https://engineering.rice.edu/

https://naturalsciences.rice.edu/

Position Description

The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) at Rice University,located in Houston, TX, seeks applications for a tenure-trackAssistant Professor position in the area of advanced computationaland/or applied artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning(ML)-informed materials research with an anticipated start date ofJuly 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028.

RAMI, working in conjunction with the Schools of Engineering andComputing and Natural Sciences and the Departments therein, seeksapplicants from diverse backgrounds for potential tenure-trackfaculty positions in Departments to be determined by the bestnatural fit and input of the candidate (e.g., potential departmentscould include, but not be limited to, Chemical and BiomolecularEngineering, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering,Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Mechanical Engineering, orPhysics and Astronomy).

We seek outstanding candidates with research interests intheoretical, computational, modeling, and/or simulation ofmaterials science (and related fields) and the application ofadvanced AI and ML approaches to accelerate, improve, orrevolutionize the same. Research spanning all aspects of materials,including soft/hard matter, inorganic/organic materials, etc. iswelcomed, as long as that research maps significantly to one ormore of the RAMI core research areas, including:

• Next-generation Electronics/Photonics – Developing materials toenable a new paradigm in microelectronics ranging from memory/logicto communications to sensors and beyond, with a focus onlow-power/voltage function.
• Energy Materials (Systems) – Developing materials innovationsto transform energy storage, conversion, and harvesting.
• Materials for the Environment – Developing materialsinnovations to assure responsible use of natural resources andlong-term stewardship of our air, soil, and water resources.

This effort is being initiated through RAMI, a campus-wideinstitute with the goal of expanding Rice’s already strong effortsin materials research across many departments in science andengineering. RAMI includes >75 current faculty members from morethan a dozen departments working on a wide array of research thatoverlap with RAMI’s core research focus areas. Rice considersefforts to bolster these areas as a focal point of materialsresearch in the coming years.

The selected candidate will be expected to teach and developundergraduate and graduate courses within their expertise and ahome department; perform high-quality research in their specializedarea and present findings from their research in peer-reviewedpublications and conferences; establish a strong research programsupported by extramural funding; be involved in service to theuniversity and broader scientific community; and collaborate withfaculty in diverse disciplines. The successful candidate will havea strong commitment to teaching, advising, and mentoringundergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

We welcome the fullness of diversity to Rice. Qualifiedapplicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion,age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnicorigin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteranstatus. Also, in our candidate pools, we seek to attract greaterrepresentation of women, scholars of color, people withdisabilities, veterans, and others who have historically beenunderrepresented in advanced materials; attract students from awide range of countries and backgrounds; accelerate progress inbuilding a faculty and staff varied in background and thought; andmaintain an environment that fosters interaction and understandingwithin our community.

About the Rice Advanced Materials Institute

The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) serves as the catalystfor materials research across Rice University. Bridging the GeorgeR. Brown School of Engineering and Computing and the Wiess Schoolof Natural Sciences, RAMI fosters interdisciplinary collaborationto solve global challenges in energy, sustainability, nationalsecurity, information technology, and beyond. The Institute supports a vibrant community of scholars and provides access toworld-class shared instrumentation and facilities, enabling facultyto push the boundaries of fundamental and applied materialsscience.

About the George R. Brown School of Engineering andComputing

Rice University's George R. Brown School of Engineering andComputing is a top-ranked program that empowers the next generationof leaders with strong technical and communication skills, creativeproblem solving and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.For more information, please look at the School's website.

About the Wiess School of Natural Sciences

The Wiess School of Natural Sciences at Rice University is a schoolwith a global vision, where the universe serves as our laboratory.Driven by deep curiosity, our faculty and students exploreeverything from the smallest subatomic particles to the farthestreaches of the cosmos and every scale in between. Across all ourdisciplines, the mission remains the same: to advancediscovery.

About Rice University

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research universitylocated in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District andadjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Houston is the fourth largestcity in the United States and also one of the most diverse citiesin the country with rich cultural activities and robust economicopportunities. Rice has a vibrant research enterprise includingworld-class research centers, institutes, and interdisciplinaryinitiatives and >$212M of yearly research expenditures. Itoffers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools andhas a student body of approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 4,200graduate students. Rice consistently ranks among the top 20national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (USNews & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 ofU.S. universities. The George R. Brown School of Engineering andComputing and the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, and theirdepartments, at Rice consistently rank among the top programs inthe U.S.

All candidates must have earned a Ph.D. degree in a field closelyrelated to materials science conferred by July 1, 2027. Allapplicants should demonstrate excellence in scholarship, teaching,and collegial service.

Rice University

is an Equal Opportunity Employer withcommitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employmentqualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age,sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnicorigin, genetic information, disability or protected veteranstatus.

Rice Mission and Values

Mission and Values | Rice University