Assistant Professor in Materials Science and NanoEngineering

Assistant Professor Position in Materials Science and NanoEngineering

Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA

Rice University’s School of Engineering invites applicants from diverse backgrounds for an open tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level in the emerging and broad area of Neuroengineering. The appointment will be in the department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering (MSNE) at Rice.  Research areas of interest include experimental materials technologies for interfacing with and manipulating the nervous system to improve our understanding and treatment of the function of the brain and neurological disorders. Rice University recently launched a $50 million initiative in neuroengineering to support growing research and education programs in neuroengineering, biosensing, and nano-bioelectronics with great national and international visibility. Specifically, we are interested in looking at applicants who have expertise in soft matter, polymers and bioelectronics, with interests in neuroscience and neuroengineering.

Requirements

A Ph.D. in a materials or nanotechnology related field is required, or the Ph.D. requirements must be fulfilled by July 1 of the year employment commences, and the successful applicants will be required to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in MSNE and build successful research programs.

Application Materials and Deadline

Deadline for submission of applications is December 15, 2021 and the received applications for this position will be reviewed starting end of December, 2021. The position is expected to be available July 1, 2022. Additional information can be found on our websites: http://neuroengineering.rice.edu/; https://msne.rice.edu/

To apply, please submit the following materials: (1) cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) research statement (up to 5 pages), (4) statement of teaching philosophy (up to 2 pages), and (5) statement of past and planned contributions to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (up to 2 pages) to the job posting (https://apply.interfolio.com/94938).  In addition, candidates will be asked to provide the names and contact information for 3-5 references, who will automatically be emailed for letters of recommendation at the time of application.

The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to teaching, advising, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

Consistent with the National Research Council’s report, Convergence: Facilitating Transdisciplinary Integration of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Beyond, we are seeking candidates who have demonstrated ability to lead and work in research groups that “… [integrate] the knowledge, tools, and ways of thinking…” from engineering, mathematics, and computational, natural, social and behavioral sciences to solve societal problems using a convergent approach.

Drawing additionally from the findings in the Convergence report mentioned above, we believe that a diversity of personal backgrounds yields improved educational, social and research results. We seek, therefore, greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought; and an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

About Rice University

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center.  It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students.  Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities.

Rice also works hard to achieve diversity in its students, staff and faculty, in gender, race, ethnic and economic backgrounds. This is reflected, for example, in the following ethnic distribution of domestic students: 34% Asian American, 34% Caucasian, 16% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% African American and 6% multiracial. It helps that Rice is located in the most ethnically diverse city in the US, but we also create a nurturing environment that celebrates our many cultures, our allyship of LGBTQ folk, and our willingness to address historical wrongs in the history of the university and its founder.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering ranks among the top 20 of undergraduate engineering programs and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff and students in an inclusive environment. This includes a long-term emphasis on hiring women and people of URM backgrounds.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.