CSU Ceramic Materials Group Postdoctoral Fellow

Colorado State University • Fort Collins, CO

25d • $55,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Ceramic Materials Group seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct innovative research in advanced manufacturing of critical engineering ceramic materials and/or advanced materials—especially ceramics—for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. The successful candidate will develop and carry out independent and collaborative research, produce novel scientific results, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and help develop new research directions and proposals.

The role includes designing, conducting, and troubleshooting experimental research; developing and evaluating materials, processing approaches, methods, and instrumentation; and collecting, analyzing, and interpreting experimental data. The postdoctoral fellow will identify scientific questions, review and assess relevant literature, prepare and present research findings, and contribute to scholarly and funding materials. The position also assists with supervising and mentoring graduate students and undergraduate research assistants.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and hold a valid driver’s license by the proposed start date. A pre-employment background check is required for new hires. The annual salary range is $55,000–$70,000. Application materials include a cover letter, resume/CV, and writing, publication, or grant proposal samples. Full consideration date: November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Applied Physics, (Inorganic) Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• At least three first-author peer-reviewed journal publications in areas closely related to advanced materials manufacturing, advanced ceramics, electrochemical energy conversion and storage, or related materials research.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, conduct, analyze, and troubleshoot experimental research.
• Strong scientific writing and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to research excellence and scientific rigor.
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date.
• Valid driver’s license by the proposed start date.
• Successful completion of the required pre-employment background check.

Nice To Haves

• Curiosity and enthusiasm for developing new materials, processing methods, experimental approaches, or scientific concepts.
• Experience developing or building experimental instrumentation or laboratory capabilities.
• Experience with advanced materials processing, manufacturing, synthesis, or characterization.
• Experience with electrochemical energy conversion and/or energy storage materials and devices.
• Ability to formulate innovative research ideas and translate them into testable scientific hypotheses.
• Experience preparing research proposals, grant applications, or other competitive funding proposals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines.
• Experience mentoring graduate or undergraduate researchers.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot experimental research in advanced manufacturing of critical engineering ceramic materials and/or materials, especially ceramic materials, for electrochemical energy conversion and storage.
• Develop and evaluate new materials, processing approaches, experimental methodologies, and instrumentation.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret experimental data, including complex and multidisciplinary datasets.
• Identify scientific questions and develop innovative approaches to challenging materials and processing problems.
• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews and critically evaluate existing scientific knowledge.
• Prepare and publish high-quality manuscripts in reputable peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Present research findings at scientific conferences, seminars, and group meetings.
• Participate in brainstorming and collaborative research to develop research concepts and competitive research proposals.
• Contribute to research proposals, technical reports, presentations, and other scholarly materials.
• Assist in supervising and mentoring graduate students and undergraduate research assistants.

Benefits

• Colorado State University describes a robust benefits package, a collaborative atmosphere, and a focus on work-life balance; specific benefits are not listed in the posting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree