Postdoctoral Associate - Materials Science & Nanoengineering

Position Summary

The Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering has an open Postdoctoral Research Associate position. The nanofiber lab at Rice University, led by Professor Karen Lozano, focuses on the discovery and innovation of process-structure-property relationships of nanofiber-based membranes for a range of advanced applications, including drug delivery, energy storage, biomaterials, and thermal dissipation. The lab is particularly interested in developing hierarchical and composite nanofiber systems with prescribed structures to optimize performance in targeted applications while expanding the fundamental understanding of nanofiber fabrication processes and their resulting properties.

The postdoctoral associate will be responsible for conducting experimental and analytical research on nanofiber-based systems. The researcher will work closely with graduate and undergraduate students, contribute to publications and grant writing, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams both within Rice and with external partners.

This position is a one-year term-limited position. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Physics, or a related field
• No experience required

Skills Required

• Expertise in nanofiber fabrication techniques (e.g., forcespinning, electrospinning, melt-blowing, or other scalable fiber production methods)
• Strong background in structure-property relationships of polymer and composite materials.
• Knowledge of advanced materials characterization techniques (SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, rheology, etc.)
• Knowledge of composite materials processing, hierarchical material design, and chemical interactions within nanofiber systems
• Strong chemistry background, particularly in polymer chemistry, surface chemistry, or chemical functionalization of nanofiber membranes
• Knowledge of Computational or modeling related to fiber formation, mechanics, transport phenomena, or chemical interactions in nanofiber systems (preferred)
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills for publications and grant writing

Essential Functions

• Design, fabricate, and characterize nanofiber-based membranes with tailored properties for specific applications
• Analyze the structure-property relationships in composite nanofiber systems to optimize performance
• Lead research projects, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and collaborate with other faculty and researchers
• Prepare and publish research findings in high-impact journals and present results at conferences
• Contribute to proposal writing for funding opportunities related to nanofiber based systems and related technologies
• Ensure lab safety and maintain research documentation in compliance with Rice University policies
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach a cover letter and a curriculum vitae in the Supporting Documents section of the application. Please apply through the Rice jobs website posting.

Hiring Range: $50-$65k

Posted: 29-Mar-26

Location: Houston, TX, United States

Type: Full-time

Internal Number: 4562