Open Rank Professor - Materials Science & Eng., Chemical & Biomolecular Eng. and / or Bioengineering

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY. The Departments of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE), and Bioengineering (BioE) within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science at Lehigh University jointly invite applications at all ranks for a tenure-track or tenured position with a specialization in Soft Matter, with an anticipated start date of July 2026. Tenure on appointment is possible for senior candidates. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a thriving research program in application-driven soft materials (e.g., tissue engineering, smart / stimuli-responsive polymers, soft electronics / wearables, bioinspired systems, biomaterials, bioactive materials) and / or advanced characterization and processing (e.g., cryo-TEM, in situ electron microscopy, microfluidics, rheology, polymer processing, and structure–property mapping, additive manufacturing). The successful candidate will collaborate across departments and with Lehigh’s Institute for Functional Materials & Devices (I-FMD), leveraging advanced tools including one of the most comprehensive scanning and transmission electron microscopy facilities and related micro / nanofabrication and biointerface platforms. More information on the materials characterization facility can be found at :   https : / / ifmd.lehigh.edu / facilities . The primary appointment will be in one of the three departments with opportunity for formal cross-department affiliation or joint appointment.

The individual hired will be expected to teach courses at all levels of the MSE, ChBE, or BioE curriculum; engage in scholarly activities; and participate in departmental, college, and university service. Successful candidates will also be expected to pursue external funding and support PhD students, and contribute to department, college, and university efforts to support an academic culture in which all faculty, students, and staff can thrive to their fullest potential.

Lehigh’s MSE Department ( https : / / materials.lehigh.edu / ) maintains active research in the areas of ceramics, glasses, polymers, electronic materials, biomaterials, metals, modeling / simulation, and electron microscopy. The research in Lehigh’s ChBE Department ( https : / / engineering.lehigh.edu / chbe ) includes areas of biomolecular science and therapeutics; energy and the environment; functional materials and nanotechnology; colloids, emulsions, and interfacial science; and computations, systems, and machine learning.  The research in Lehigh’s BioE Department ( https : / / engineering.lehigh.edu / bioe ) spans key areas such as biocomputation and modeling, diagnostics, sensors and devices, and materials and therapies; outcomes of our faculty-led efforts are contributing to advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the development of platforms for the early detection of disease and precision diagnostics, and the design of novel biological pharmaceuticals and nanomedicine, biosensors, and medical devices. Among the faculty of the three departments are fellows of professional societies as well as award-winning professors, including many NSF CAREER award winners. The departments consist of a diverse group of students, staff, and faculty, and place a strong emphasis on inclusion and belonging in teaching and scholarship.

Founded in 1865, Lehigh University has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. Recognized among the nation's highly ranked research universities, Lehigh offers a rigorous academic community for over 7,500 students. Lehigh University has some 5,800 undergraduates, 1,800 graduate students, and nearly 600 full-time faculty members. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA, a vibrant and historic area. Over 840,000 people live in the Lehigh Valley, which is in close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.

Qualifications

Candidates must have an earned PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Bioengineering or a closely related field by the date of employment. Candidates must have a track record of publishing in top-tier scientific and engineering journals.

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin on December 1 and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by November 28.

Tenure track applicants should apply at  https : / / apply.interfolio.com / 173558

Tenured applicants should apply at https : / / apply.interfolio.com / 173813

Candidates should submit the following materials :

Cover letter Curriculum vitae Research statement that describes past scholarly contributions and future research directions Teaching statement that describes instructional philosophy and courses that the candidate would want to teach or develop A statement on Contributions to Lehigh’s  Principles of Our Equitable Community  that describes how your experiences, knowledge, and skills prepare you to effectively contribute to a learning and research community that holds these principles at its core (the Lehigh ADVANCE Center’s guide for understanding and preparing such statements is available  here .  Any inquiries regarding this search should be directed to Prof. Xuanhong Cheng, Chair of the search committee, at xuc207@lehigh.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Lehigh University is an  equal opportunity employer  and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or familial status, national origin (including shared ancestry), pregnancy or related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University is committed to a  culturally and intellectually diverse academic community  and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and / or service, to this mission. Lehigh University provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including domestic partner benefits, and supports faculty members’  work / life balance .