Research Scientist Senior

University of Kentucky; United States; On-site; USD 58,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Exceptional Benefits

Job summary

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Scientist Senior to join the Chemical & Materials Engineering department. Lead complex materials research, supervise personnel, coordinate collaborations and manage laboratory instrumentation.

This position provides technical leadership across externally funded projects, executes advanced experiments such as electron microscopy and X-ray scattering, and contributes to proposals, sponsor reports and scientific manuscripts.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related discipline.
• Minimum 2 years of related experience.
• Experience leading experimentation and supervising research staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for complex materials research and characterization projects, personally conducting novel or high-priority experimental work while directing and reviewing related work performed by other group members.
• Define experimental approaches and translate broad project goals into executable technical plans across multiple concurrent projects.
• Serve as a primary technical resource for advanced materials characterization, including electron microscopy and X-ray scattering, and evaluate emerging techniques and instrumentation for research applications.
• Manage research activities, timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation across University units and external collaborating institutions.
• Represent the research group in planning discussions with external partners and shared-resource stakeholders, resolving scheduling and resource conflicts and identifying risks to project timelines.
• Supervise research support staff and student personnel, including onboarding, task assignment, performance feedback, time-record approval, and day-to-day program activities.
• Collaborate on research proposals and funding activities while independently leading scientific manuscripts, sponsor reports, and other research communications.
• Help develop and execute strategic plans for laboratory instrumentation, including equipment evaluation and acquisition, safety compliance, shared-instrument access and training, maintenance planning, and service contract management.

Skills

Materials characterization

Electron microscopy

X-ray scattering

Project management

Education

PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related discipline

Job description

Working Title

Posting Details

Job Title Research Scientist Senior

Requisition Number RE56335

Department Name 8H200:Chemical & Materials Engineering

Work Location Lexington, KY

Grade Level 47

Salary Range $58,302-96,179/year

Type of Position Staff

Position Time Status Full-Time

Required Education PhD

Click here for more information about equivalencies: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies

Required Related Experience 2 yrs

Required License/Registration/Certification None

Physical Requirements Lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects up to 50 lbs., sitting for long periods of time, and standing for long periods of time etc.

Shift Monday-Friday; 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Job Summary

Lead complex materials research, strengthen cross-institutional collaboration, and advance high-impact scientific discovery.

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Scientist Senior to join the Chemical & Materials Engineering department.

This position provides technical leadership across a portfolio of externally funded materials research and characterization projects while executing complex experimental work and coordinating research activities with internal and external collaborators. The Research Scientist Senior also supervises research personnel, leads scientific reporting and communication, and helps guide the strategic management of laboratory instrumentation and infrastructure.

What You’ll Do

• Provide technical leadership for complex materials research and characterization projects, personally conducting novel or high-priority experimental work while directing and reviewing related work performed by other group members.
• Define experimental approaches and translate broad project goals into executable technical plans across multiple concurrent projects.
• Serve as a primary technical resource for advanced materials characterization, including electron microscopy and X-ray scattering, and evaluate emerging techniques and instrumentation for research applications.
• Manage research activities, timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation across University units and external collaborating institutions.
• Represent the research group in planning discussions with external partners and shared-resource stakeholders, resolving scheduling and resource conflicts and identifying risks to project timelines.
• Supervise research support staff and student personnel, including onboarding, task assignment, performance feedback, time-record approval, and day-to-day program activities.
• Collaborate on research proposals and funding activities while independently leading scientific manuscripts, sponsor reports, and other research communications.
• Help develop and execute strategic plans for laboratory instrumentation, including equipment evaluation and acquisition, safety compliance, shared-instrument access and training, maintenance planning, and service contract management.

What You’ll Bring

• Advanced expertise across multiple materials experimentation and characterization techniques, with particular strength in electron microscopy and X-ray scattering.
• Strong understanding of the relationships among materials processing, structure, properties, and performance.
• Ability to translate research objectives into technical plans and effectively direct the technical work of others.
• Project management skills and the ability to coordinate priorities, resources, timelines, and deliverables across multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Personnel management, mentoring, scheduling, and sound judgment in supervising research staff and students.
• Strong scientific writing, presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to prepare proposals, reports, and manuscripts.
• Knowledge of laboratory instrumentation management, equipment planning, procurement and budgeting processes, and chemical, laser, and radiation safety requirements.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills for balancing multiple concurrent research projects and collaborations.

Minimum Requirements

• PhD
• 2 years of related experience

What’s In It For You

• Opportunity to provide technical leadership across complex, externally funded materials research and characterization projects.
• Meaningful involvement in scientific publications, sponsored research reporting, funding proposals, and collaboration with research partners.
• Opportunity to supervise and mentor research staff and students while helping shape laboratory capabilities, instrumentation, and technical practices.
• UK’s Exceptional Benefits

Why Now?

A growing portfolio of concurrent research projects and external collaborations requires experienced technical leadership that can connect scientific strategy with consistent project execution. This role provides that coordination while helping ensure complex experimental work, research deliverables, personnel, and shared resources remain aligned.

By combining advanced materials characterization expertise with project leadership, supervision, scientific communication, and laboratory infrastructure planning, the Research Scientist Senior will help strengthen the group’s ability to deliver high-quality research outcomes and support future externally funded work.

Internal Employee Being Considered

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Demonstrated technical leadership in experimental materials research, with an understanding of processing, microstructure, and properties across a broad class of materials; familiarity with multiple materials characterization techniques; demonstrated project management, cross-institutional coordination, and personnel supervision experience.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes

Preferred Education/Experience

PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related discipline, with several years of experience leading experimentation in the materials research area, including demonstrated project management, cross-institutional coordination, and personnel supervision experience.

Deadline to Apply

11/05/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.