Description
Soft, Biological, and Functional Materials
(Experiment, Simulation, Machine Learning)
Assistant or Associate Professor
Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
The Department of Polymer Science and Engineering invites applications for a full-time, Assistant (tenure-track) or Associate (tenured) Professor in the broad field of soft, biological, and functional materials to start September 1, 2027 or on a mutually agreed date thereafter.
We seek candidates with the skills and creative ideas to work in any current or future area of polymer science and engineering. The successful candidate is expected to contribute significantly to the Department’s collaborative research, teaching, and service, where excellence is sought in all respects. We welcome candidates from all areas of expertise including experiment, computation and theory.
Our faculty were trained in chemistry, physics, chemical and materials engineering, biology and mathematics; formal training in polymer science is not a prerequisite, and many of us arrived without it. We also invite compelling candidates who may not be actively on the job market.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in science, engineering or a related discipline by the start date of the appointment.
- Demonstrated potential for high-impact scholarship, effective teaching, and collaborative research.
Application Instructions:
For full consideration, submit the following application materials by December 1, 2026.
- Cover letter.
- CV (including research accomplishments, teaching experience, and publications).
- Research plan.
- Teaching and mentoring statement.
- References:
- Applicants for a tenure-track position should arrange for at least three letters of recommendation, submitted directly through the application portal.
- Applicants for a tenured position need not include letters at the inquiry stage; please provide the names and contact information for at least three references whom we may contact.
https://careers.umass.edu/jobs/assistant-associate-professor-polymer-science-amherst-massachusetts-united-states
Review of applications will begin December 1, 2026 and may continue until a suitable candidate pool has been established.
Candidates for position at the associate professor or above should include materials that address the standards and criteria for tenure at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as described in our Academic Personnel Policy (also known as the “Red Book”). The University expects to pay within an approximate range between $79,350 and $138,028 for this position if filled at the Assistant Professor level and between $90,160 and $185,619 if filled at the Associate Professor level. Please note: The low end of this range is based on the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA. The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience. The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors, including faculty rank and required relevant certifications, when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. These values and goals are reflected in the College of Natural Sciences’ Inclusive Excellence framework and in the UMass Amherst’s For the Common Good: 2024–2034 Strategic Plan.
