Research Scientist

Worcester Polytechnic Institute•Worcester, MA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute invites applications for a Research Scientist position in the area of low-carbon cement concrete materials, durability, and infrastructure applications. The research scientist will work on a MassDOT-funded research project focused on evaluating emerging binders, alternative supplementary cementitious materials, and advanced chemical admixtures for use in durable, low-carbon concrete for highway infrastructure. The project will investigate materials such as limestone calcined clay cement / Type IC cement, low-heat performance cement, alkali-activated cementitious materials, natural volcanic ash, colloidal silica admixtures, and permeability-reducing admixtures. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty investigators, graduate students, MassDOT Research and Materials Laboratory staff, concrete producers, and industry partners to support laboratory testing, field-relevant mock-ups, data analysis, reporting, and technology transfer.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
Strong background in cementitious materials, concrete technology, construction materials, or infrastructure materials.
Hands-on experience with laboratory testing of cement paste, mortar, or concrete.
Familiarity with ASTM, AASHTO, or similar testing standards for cement and concrete materials.
Strong data analysis, technical writing, and communication skills.
Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with faculty, students, agency partners, and industry collaborators.

Nice To Haves

Experience in low-carbon cement, blended cement, LC³, calcined clay, natural pozzolans, or alternative SCMs.
Experience with alkali-activated cementitious materials or geopolymer systems.
Experience in concrete durability testing, including ASR, chloride transport, electrical resistivity, formation factor, freeze–thaw, scaling, or permeability-related testing.
Experience with cement hydration and microstructural characterization using calorimetry, XRD, TGA, FTIR, SEM-EDS, MIP, or related methods.
Experience with thermodynamic or geochemical modeling of cementitious systems.
Experience with concrete rheology, workability, finishability, or field placement evaluation.
Experience working with DOTs, transportation agencies, concrete producers, or industry partners.
Experience in preparation of agency reports, technical specifications, peer-reviewed publications, and implementation guidance.

Responsibilities

Evaluate emerging binders, alternative supplementary cementitious materials, and advanced chemical admixtures for use in durable, low-carbon concrete for highway infrastructure.
Investigate materials such as limestone calcined clay cement / Type IC cement, low-heat performance cement, alkali-activated cementitious materials, natural volcanic ash, colloidal silica admixtures, and permeability-reducing admixtures.
Work closely with faculty investigators, graduate students, MassDOT Research and Materials Laboratory staff, concrete producers, and industry partners.
Support laboratory testing, field-relevant mock-ups, data analysis, reporting, and technology transfer.