Postdoctoral Associate - Chemistry

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Prof. Yruegas' research group in the Department of Chemistry at Rice University is seeking a postdoctoral research associate in the field of synthetic inorganic chemistry.

The successful candidate will perform synthetic inorganic chemistry research toward designing new catalytic chemical reactions and provide laboratory leadership in a growing research group. They will be provided with a dynamic research environment and mentorship toward achieving their career goals.

Rice University is one of the top private research universities in the United States, ranked 17th in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report for national research universities. Located in Houston, the fourth largest city in the U.S., the laboratory is adjacent to the world's largest biomedical center, including MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine among over a dozen top biomedical research institutions.

Rice University has made significant contributions in the fields of materials science, nanoscience, and artificial heart research.

This is a full-time in-person position at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Weekends and evenings are not required, though the candidate may work at these times at their discretion.

Travel outside of Rice University is not required for the position, though the successful candidate will be encouraged to attend at least one relevant scientific conference during their tenure in order to further their professional development.

The position entails exposure to the associated hazards of a synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry laboratory, including the use of toxic, pyrophoric, or corrosive chemicals on occasion. However, we will strictly adhere to best practices for the safe handling of these substances and will do everything in our power to mitigate their associated risks in collaboration with Environmental Health & Safety.

Finally, this position is funded by a grant, soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.

• Doctoral degree in chemistry with a focus on organic, inorganic, or organometallic chemistry

• Proficiency with synthetic inorganic chemical techniques including (but not limited to): designing, implementing, and analyzing experiments on both test and preparatory scales; optimizing reaction conditions via experimental variable screens; characterizing small molecules via NMR, FTIR, and other spectroscopic methods
• Solid foundation in presenting scientific results both orally and via the written word
• Strong ability to survey and assess the scientific literature
• Ability to mentor junior graduate students and/or undergraduate students
• Able to work independently and professionally with minimal supervision and direction
• Ability to write scholarly papers based on ongoing research and submit them to journals for publication
• Able to work in a collaborative environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as oral presentation skills

• Ph.D. in relevant field with a focus in synthetic inorganic synthesis

• Perform synthetic inorganic chemistry research toward designing new catalytic chemical reactions
• Provide laboratory leadership and experimental expertise to the research group
• Designs and implements research protocols; adapts new procedures, methods or instrumentation relative to research procedures
• Publishes and presents research findings
• Supports project management and collaboration across institutions or disciplines
• Assists with proposal development to obtain research funding
• Mentors, oversees, and/or trains junior research team members
• Performs all other duties as assigned