Department of Materials Science and Engineering - Faculty Search

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applicants for multiple open-rank (assistant, associate, or full professor level) tenure-track, full-time faculty positions in the broad area of data driven, theoretical, and computational materials science. One position will focus on soft materials such as polymers, biomolecular materials, composite/multifunctional materials, and bio/soft electronics.

The second position will focus on hard materials such as metallic, ceramic, quantum, magnetic, nano, and electronic materials. Candidates should ideally have strong potential for collaboration in the department and interdisciplinary research centers.

Successful candidates must be able to teach in these and other areas while also contributing to the excellence of our programs through research and service efforts. Candidates are expected to establish and maintain an active and independent research program, teach effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and provide service to the department, the university, and the profession.

At the time of appointment, applicants must hold an earned doctorate in a field related to the position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The typical salary range is as follows: $120,000 to $135,000 at the Assistant Professor level, $135,000 to $156,000 at the Associate Professor level, and $156,000 to $200,000 at the Full Professor level, for a 9-month service basis paid over 12 months.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. This position is eligible for work authorization sponsorship.

The expected start date is August 16, 2027, but this is negotiable. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by November 2, 2026
. Early applicants are encouraged and may be reviewed by the committee and interviewed before the closing date. However, all applications received by the closing date will be given due consideration and no hiring decision will be made until after the closing date. Applications received after the closing date may be reviewed until a hiring decision is made.

MatSE at Illinois has a long tradition of excellence in materials research, teaching, and service. The department currently has 27 tenure system faculty and approximately 425 undergraduate and 225 graduate students, with highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Extensive state-of-the-art characterization and nanofabrication facilities are housed on campus in the Materials Research Laboratory, the Holonyak Micro & Nanotechnology Lab, the Beckman Institute, and the Carl R.

Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. The campus also hosts exceptional computational facilities, such as the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.

We have an active and successful Dual Career Academic Couples Program and a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff (provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/work-life-balance).

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional…