User Facilities Director for MATRIX-MIP and Facility Manager for Hard Materials Lab (HML)

UW-Madison College of Engineering; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

UW-Madison College of Engineering seeks an outstanding scientist to lead the Hard Materials Lab (HML) and MATRIX-MIP center operations. The role supervises six staff and coordinates user programs, equipment acquisition, and training during startup and ongoing operations.

The position requires collaboration with NSF, development of user training, and oversight of proposal reviews, data collection, and progress reporting, with strong communication skills and scientific expertise.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of lab experience focused on bulk synthesis and characterization of structural materials.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a consultant to project directors and provide technical expertise to research and operational personnel.
• Determine unit personnel needs and allocate resources.
• Plan, implement and manage strategic initiatives for a center or program with institutional recognition.
• Manage large research projects for the institution.
• Act as unit liaison to internal stakeholder groups to foster cross-unit partnerships.
• Collaborate with project directors and clients across knowledge areas.
• Supervise at least 2.0 FTE employees including performance and hours worked.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related discipline.

Masters or PhD in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related discipline.

Job description

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Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Research Program Associate Director (Inst)

Job Summary

The University of Wisconsin – Madison seeks an outstanding scientist to serve as a staff member for MATRIX_MIP (Materials AI and Transformation through Research Infrastructure for eXtreme environments) and the Hard Materials Lab (HML). MATRIX-MIP is a newly established NSF research center focused on developing structural materials for extreme environments. The center will be housed in HML, a new core facility of the Wisconsin Centers for Nanoscale Technology (WCNT), launching alongside MATRIX-MIP.

The successful candidate will provide integrated leadership for HML operations and the MATRIX-MIP user program, with primary responsibilities for hiring and managing a team of six HML staff members and supporting the lab’s broader user community. During the startup phase, the individual will help establish the facility through laboratory design, equipment evaluation and acquisition, and development of user training programs. Ongoing responsibilities will include coordinating staff support for internal and external users, consulting with prospective users on project feasibility and available resources, and serving as the primary point of contact for resolving escalated user concerns. The individual will also lead and promote the MATRIX-MIP user program and oversee its proposal submission and review process. In support of MATRIX-MIP’s NSF reporting and oversight activities, the individual will participate in meetings with NSF, coordinate the collection of user program and facility usage data, and contribute to progress reports. This position requires a collaborative leader with strong scientific expertise and excellent communication skills.

This vacancy is being announced simultaneously with JR#10015627; please note that only one vacancy exists. Having two job postings allows the College of Engineering to consider candidates with both oversight and strategic planning for a center and conceptualizing, designs, instrumentation systems used in scientific research.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Serves as a consultant to project directors and provides technical expertise to research and operational personnel
• Determines unit personnel needs and the unit personnel resource allocation plan
• Assists with planning, implementation, and management of strategic initiatives for a center or program that has institutional recognition
• Manages large research projects for the institution
• Serves as a unit liaison to internal stakeholder groups to foster cross-unit partnership efforts regarding research programs and activities
• Collaborates with project directors and the full range of clients whose knowledge and expertise varies
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Department

College of Engineering, Wisconsin Centers for Nanoscale Technology (WCNT)

Compensation

The starting salary for the position is $120,000 (but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications).

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of lab experience focused on bulk synthesis and characterization of structural materials

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on bulk synthesis and characterization of structural materials in extreme conditions, notably high temperature structural environments
• One year of personnel management experience
• Experience in metallic and/or ceramic additive manufacturing
• Experience in primary processing of materials and scale-up
• Experience with lab design, including space needs, facilities planning, and safety considerations
• Experience in user training and the development of instructional materials
• Experience with instrument maintenance and repair

Education

Required: Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related discipline.

Preferred: Masters or PhD in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related discipline.

Please be aware that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you would have to provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

The College is not an E-Verify employer and therefore we cannot accept F-1 OPT STEM Extensions for employment eligibility.

Contact Information

Julie Morasch, [e-mail]

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

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Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

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