Postdoctoral Scholar

The Pennsylvania State University • Harrisburg, PA

8h

About The Position

The School of Science, Engineering, and Technology at Penn State Harrisburg invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar to join our collaborative and interdisciplinary community advancing research and innovation across science, engineering, and related fields. The successful candidate will join a dynamic and intellectually vibrant team composed of faculty, researchers, and technical staff working collaboratively focused on innovation, industry partnerships, and translational research. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to and lead independent, applied research and programmatic initiatives within a supportive, well-funded, and highly interactive environment. This role provides access to strong mentorship, collaborative networks with community stakeholders, and opportunities for professional growth in innovation-driven research, technology transfer, and workforce development.

Research Areas of Interest
We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise or demonstrated interest in one or more of the following areas:

Emerging technologies in Civil Engineering and innovation ecosystems
Technology transfer and application of research outcomes
Industry–academia partnerships and workforce development
Translational and applied research in science and engineering

Requirements

• PhD in Civil Engineering, or equivalent doctoral degree
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• More than two years of research experience post-PhD at the time of application
• Demonstrated experience in sponsored research or partnership development
• Evidence of strong scholarly output, including peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and with external stakeholders
• Background in mentorship of students or early-career researchers
• Experience in collaborative research initiatives
• Experience in developing or participating in innovation ecosystems, particularly within academic environments
• Demonstrated experience in developing training materials for multiple federally funded research projects
• Experience delivering training programs to diverse stakeholders, including researchers, students, and external partners
• Ability to translate complex research concepts into clear, practical training content
• Experience of evaluating and improving training materials and workshop effectiveness

Responsibilities

• Design and implement applied research and program activities supporting innovation ecosystems and emerging technologies
• Facilitate and sustain industry–academia partnerships to advance collaboration and workforce development
• Support technology transfer by promoting the application of research outcomes in industry and community settings
• Develop and deliver training materials, workshops, and capacity-building programs for faculty and stakeholders
• Contribute to the development and execution of innovation programs, including design thinking and accelerator initiatives
• Conduct data collection, analysis, and reporting to support regional workforce and innovation assessments
• Generate high-quality, reproducible data suitable for publication in leading peer-reviewed journals
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and assist in grant development, proposal writing, and dissemination of results.

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees