2026 PhD Graduate - Postdoctoral Researcher - Printable Polymers

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

4d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Sustainable Printable Polymers to develop next-generation polymer feedstocks and processing strategies for additive manufacturing and replacement of legacy, supply chain constrained materials. This role focuses on converting bio-derived and recycled polymers into printable materials and structural, adhesive, and thermal components, while leveraging design strategies that improve performance for national security applications. You will work at the interface of polymer science, materials engineering, and advanced manufacturing to help bridge the gap between material development and manufacturing implementation.

Requirements

• PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in polymer materials, including formulation, processing, or characterization.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing techniques, particularly extrusion-based methods.
• Experience with bio-derived polymers, sustainable materials, or recycled feedstocks.
• Able to obtain a Secret level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Developed custom printing approaches informed by engineering requirements.
• Experience with polymer binders, energetic materials, or materials for austere and distributed manufacturing environments.
• Experience translating materials from lab-scale development to manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize bio-manufactured polymer feedstock formulations for 3D printing.
• Formulate and refine thermoplastic and composite polymers for extrusion-based additive manufacturing for engineering applications.
• Tailor rheological and thermal properties to ensure consistent printability and dimensional stability.
• Design and execute processing workflows to produce repeatable, high-quality feedstocks from varied starting material.
• Create and characterize multifunctional polymer composites, including replacement of legacy or supply-constrained materials.
• Develop polymer composites with targeted properties using fillers, reinforcements, or bio-derived constituents.
• Identify and demonstrate alternatives to legacy or supply-limited materials, balancing performance and manufacturability.
• Develop novel design strategies for maximizing material and component performance.
• Design material architectures and print strategies to enhance performance beyond bulk material limits.
• Explore process-structure-property relationship, linking additive manufacturing parameters with material behavior to optimize part performance.

Benefits

• Robust education assistance program
• Unparalleled retirement contributions
• Healthy work/life balance
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life insurance
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Flexible spending accounts
• Education assistance
• Training and development
• Sign-on bonus
• Relocation benefits

What This Job Offers

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