Full Professor Tenure System

MSU Careers Details•East Lansing, MI

47d•Hybrid

About The Position

Michigan State University (MSU) College of Engineering is seeking applicants for a tenure-system faculty position in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (ChEMS). This role focuses on composite materials science and manufacturing, leveraging the MSU-Fraunhofer USA Center Midwest (CMW) collaboration to address global challenges. The candidate will complement MSU and CMW's composites portfolio with a focus on fundamental and applied research, and industry interaction. This position requires close collaboration with CMW and Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) in Germany, as well as other Fraunhofer Institutes involved in composites. The role involves supporting the coordination between MSU's Composite Materials and Structures Center (CMSC) and CMW's composites activities. Areas of interest include experimental processing and manufacturing of structural composites (especially continuous-fiber thermoplastics), composite material, interface, and surface development, multifunctional and discontinuous-fiber composite systems, process monitoring, modeling, automation, and AI-assisted manufacturing, design and optimization informed by process–structure–property relationships, sustainable, recyclable, and circular composite technologies, and advanced multi-scale and in situ characterization of composite microstructures and interfaces. Preference will be given to candidates who can establish a strong experimental laboratory and translate research to manufacturing applications, particularly for the mobility industry. The position also requires strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, the ability to work in an international research environment, and a commitment to fostering inclusion. Joint appointments with other departments are possible. The candidate is expected to enhance MSU and Fraunhofer's reputation through their professional activities, with a particular interest in research that has broad societal impact. This is a union position represented by the Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF).

Requirements

Have an earned PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline at the time of appointment.
Potential for high-quality instruction and mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Demonstrated ability and/or potential to provide service to the Department, the University, and the profession, and to work with students and faculty from a variety of backgrounds.
For Assistant Professor candidates: strong potential for high-quality research likely to result in top-level publications and national recognition.
For Associate/Full Professor candidates: an established national reputation for original and influential research, with demonstrable evidence of continued growth in national status.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated leadership ability, with strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to build effective working relationships across diverse teams.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to varied audiences.
Proven ability to thrive in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.
Ability to work in a collaborative international research environment.

Responsibilities

Complement the growing composites portfolio at MSU and CMW with a focus on fundamental and applied research and industry interaction.
Support the ongoing coordination between the composites activities at MSU – including the Composite Materials and Structures Center (CMSC) – and CMW.
Conduct research in areas related to composite materials science and manufacturing, with particular interest in experimental processing and manufacturing of structural composites, especially continuous-fiber thermoplastics; composite material, interface, and surface development; multifunctional and discontinuous-fiber composite systems; process monitoring, modeling, automation, and AI-assisted manufacturing; design and optimization informed by process–structure–property relationships; sustainable, recyclable, and circular composite technologies; and advanced multi-scale and in situ characterization of composite microstructures and interfaces to establish processing–structure–property relationships.
Develop a strong experimental laboratory and translate fundamental materials research toward manufacturing applications, including structures for the mobility industry.
Foster and advance inclusion.
Advance the reputation of MSU and Fraunhofer through professional activities.
Conduct research with broad impact on society at large.
Provide high-quality instruction and mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Provide service to the Department, the University, and the profession.
Work with students and faculty from a variety of backgrounds.