Assistant/Associate Professor: Chemistry

Department:

College of Science

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To ensure full consideration, we must receive applications by November 15, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted after the full consideration date until we have a sufficient applicant pool or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.

When applying, you will be required to attach the following documents:

1) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position (Cover Letter; up to 2 pages).  Also, within the cover letter, candidates should express their philosophy of open-mindedness for diverse ideas within the academy, including those different from one’s own, and a commitment to free inquiry based on evidence.

2) Curriculum vitae

3) Statement of Research: Description of research interests and plans (up to 6 pages).

4) Statement of Teaching: A statement of teaching philosophy and instructional experience (not to exceed 2 pages).

Letters of Reference will be requested for those advanced to the reference stage. At that time, you will be asked to provide contact information for your referees who will be sent a secure quicklink that will allow them to upload the requested letters of reference on your behalf.

For additional information, please contact:

Paula Christie at 541-737-1681 or [email protected]

or the Search Committee Chair: Prof. Kyriakos Stylianou, [email protected]

Job Summary:

The College of Science invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 9-month, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position (depending on qualifications).

Any hiring at the rank of Associate Professor with indefinite tenure will be subject to a successful out-of-cycle tenure review process: https://academicaffairs.oregonstate.edu/resources-policies-legislation/policies-and-resources/promotion-and-tenure-guidelines/out-cycle

The incumbent will develop an internationally recognized and innovative research program in Physical Chemistry, encompassing experimental, computational, or integrated experimental–computational approaches. The search is broad, with particular interest in molecular and materials theory, spectroscopy, photochemistry and excited-state dynamics, chemical dynamics, statistical mechanics, interfaces and condensed phases, quantum chemistry, quantum materials and quantum computing, semiconductor and energy materials, data-driven chemistry, and AI/ML-enabled chemical and materials discovery. Candidates developing new experimental methodologies or integrating advanced experiments with theory, computation, and data science are especially encouraged.

The position represents a strategic opportunity to connect fundamental Physical Chemistry with major research investments at Oregon State University and across Oregon. The successful candidate will have opportunities to engage with the NSF-funded Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST) Regional Innovation Engine, led by OSU and involving nearly 100 academic, industry, government, and community partners. Research addressing the fundamental understanding, prediction, characterization, or discovery of semiconductors, electronic and quantum materials, interfaces, energy technologies, and materials relevant to advanced manufacturing will have particularly strong opportunities for engagement.

The position will also benefit from OSU’s rapidly expanding capabilities in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-intensive research, including the Jen-Hsun Huang and Lori Mills Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex (HCIC). These investments provide opportunities for research in electronic-structure theory, molecular simulation, computational spectroscopy, quantum chemistry, materials modeling, AI-guided discovery, digital twins, and other computationally intensive areas. They also create an environment in which experimental researchers can closely integrate laboratory discovery with computation, automation, and data science.

Experimental candidates will have access to substantial infrastructure across OSU, including advanced capabilities in NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, molecular and materials spectroscopy, and materials characterization, complemented by strengths in molecular and materials synthesis. These resources provide a strong foundation for research spanning ultrafast and molecular spectroscopy, light–matter interactions, quantum phenomena, photochemistry, interfaces, energy conversion, and structure–property relationships in functional materials.

The successful candidate will establish an externally funded research program, develop interdisciplinary collaborations, mentor undergraduate and graduate researchers, contribute to teaching in Physical Chemistry and related areas, and participate in the research and educational mission of the Department, College of Science, and University.

The successful candidate will join a highly interdisciplinary environment with opportunities for collaboration across Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Mathematics and Statistics, Engineering, Pharmacy, and other units across OSU. Particularly attractive opportunities exist at the intersections of physical chemistry with materials discovery, semiconductor science, quantum materials and quantum computing, spectroscopy and molecular dynamics, photochemistry, energy conversion, interfaces, computational chemistry, AI/ML, and high-performance computing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Chemistry, and typical teaching expectations are currently three 3-4 credit courses per year.
• Create course design, composition of the course syllabus, selection of text and other supporting materials.
• Determine topics and subject matter, fashion presentations, creating assessment tools, and overseeing graduate teaching assistants, assigning grades. Instruction methods must follow best practices for diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion. Compliance with University academic regulations is required/essential.
• Conduct research in the area of specialization so that it attracts national and international recognition and establishes the employee's reputation for scholarly excellence.
• Expected activities include, but are not limited to, supervision of students and postdoctoral associates in the execution of research; publication of non-refereed papers, web publications, books, book chapters; filing patent applications; submission of grant proposals and administration of successful grants; compliance with University regulatory policies concerning grants and research.
• Participate in department, College and University Committees.
• Participate in training/professional development to maintain current knowledge of best practices in teaching, mentoring, and interacting with students. Participation in peer review activities, promotion of the profession through outreach and participation in professional societies.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in Chemistry or an allied discipline.
• Demonstrable ability or significant potential to conduct high-quality scientific research and support OSU’s strategic plan, “Prosperity Widely Shared”.
• Demonstrable ability to disseminate the results of scholarly activities via scientific publications and conference presentations.
• Demonstrable ability or significant potential for teaching excellence and commitment to student success that benefits the graduate and undergraduate programs of the Department of Chemistry in the College of Science as well as OSU students as a whole. 
• Demonstrable ability or significant potential for mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and research assistants. 
• A demonstrated commitment to educational equity and to advancing the participation of all individuals in science.

For appointment at the Associate Professor rank, candidates must additionally demonstrate; an established record of independent scholarship and research productivity, a strong record of securing external research funding, demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring, and a record of professional and institutional service commensurate with appointment at the Associate Professor level. Candidates are expected to have demonstrated national or international recognition in their field and meet the standards for appointment at the Associate Professor rank.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant postdoctoral experience.
• Teaching experience in physical chemistry that extends beyond the duties typically assigned to Graduate Teaching Assistants (e.g., generating course syllabi and/or lecture materials, providing lecture room instruction, instruction to summer camp attendees, etc.).
• Demonstrable proficiency or significant potential to obtain external research funding.
• Demonstrable interest in transdisciplinary communication and collaboration, including the potential for engagement in synergistic interactions with other faculty at or outside OSU. 
• Demonstrable interest in outreach and engagement with members of the general public.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

Schedule as needed to perform duties, may include some evenings, nights and/or weekends.

Salary Range:

Salary is commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

Anticipated Start Date:

2027-09-16

Anticipated End Date:

When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [email protected].