Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate I

Advance groundbreaking research in polymer materials, optics, and 3D printing. The Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in polymer materials under the guidance of Dr. Liang to develop organic and organic–inorganic hybrid polymeric materials with tailored optical properties and biocompatible photopolymers using advanced 3D printing technologies. Be part of a globally recognized community of innovators.

The University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences is dedicated to providing internationally preeminent education, research, and outreach in the science and application of light and your work can help shape what's next. Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members;

access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please .

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop novel photopolymer resins for two-photon polymerization (TPP) and vat photopolymerization, with control over optical and mechanical properties.
• Design and evaluate biocompatible photopolymer formulations for 3D printing applications.
• Establish correlations between material composition, processing parameters, and optical, mechanical, and biological performance.
• Contribute to research project design and execution across optical and biomedical fabrication challenges.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in chemistry, polymer science, materials science, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in monomer synthesis and photopolymer resin formulation.
• Experience with material characterization techniques such as SEM, TGA, DSC, DMA, FTIR, and rheology, including biocompatibility assessment methods.
• Strong grasp of polymer chemistry fundamentals and photoinitiation mechanisms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with optical polymer design, including high-refractive-index or refractive index-tunable material systems.
• Familiarity with sol-gel chemistry and organic–inorganic hybrid materials for optical or biomedical printing.
• Experience with biocompatible hydrogel formulations (e.g., GelMA, PEGDA) and knowledge of ISO 10993 or USP Class VI standards.
• Experience with photo-based 3D printing platforms and process optimization.
• Familiarity with powder-based organic–inorganic liquid suspensions for composite photopolymer printing.

FLSA:
Exempt

Full Time/Part Time:
Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week: 40

Job FTE: 1.0

Work Calendar:
Fiscal

Job Category:
Research

Benefits Eligible:
Yes
- Full Benefits

Rate of Pay: NIH salary guidelines, Depends on Experience.

Compensation Type: salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Target Hire Date: 7/20/2026

Contact Information for Candidates:
Rongguang Liang | rliangzona.edu

Open Date: 7/7/2026

Open Until Filled:
Yes

Documents Needed to Apply:
Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter

Special Instructions to Applicant:
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
- In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims.

As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures. Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact.