Postdoctoral Scholar

Penn State University • University Park, IL

2d

About The Position

Dr. Mohammad Rezaee is seeking highly motivated Postdoctoral Researchers to join a newly funded, NSF-supported project under the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge (STRIDE Ventures). The project focuses on developing architecture-specific, modular technologies to transform electronic waste into manufacturing-ready critical materials, including but not limited to precious metals, rare earth elements. This effort is led by Intel-E-Waste, a startup translating research into deployable infrastructure, with Penn State as a key research partner. The selected candidate will work at the interface of mechanical processing, chemical separation, and system integration for next-generation recycling technologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Mineral Processing, Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field by the start date.
• Experience in physical separation, hydrometallurgy, separations, or recycling technologies
• Strong experimental and analytical skills
• Proficiency in data analysis and scientific writing (evidenced by publication record)
• Available to start immediately
• Creative problem-solving skills and ability to work independently.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with critical materials (including rare earth and precious metal) recovery and separation
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary and applied research environments

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments in metal recovery and separation
• Utilize advanced characterization techniques
• Develop and optimize process flows for targeted material streams
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (engineering, chemistry, industry partners)
• Support scale-up activities and prototype development
• Publish high-impact research in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to technical reports

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

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