Assistant Professor of Advanced Materials

Tenure-Track Faculty Opening with the Rice Advanced Materials Institute

School of Engineering and Computing and the School of Natural Sciences at Rice University 

https://rami.rice.edu/
https://engineering.rice.edu/
https://naturalsciences.rice.edu/

Position Description
The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) at Rice University, located in Houston, TX, seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the area of advanced computational and/or applied artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML)-informed materials research with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028.

RAMI, working in conjunction with the Schools of Engineering and Computing and Natural Sciences and the Departments therein, seeks applicants from diverse backgrounds for potential tenure-track faculty positions in Departments to be determined by the best natural fit and input of the candidate (e.g., potential departments could include, but not be limited to, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics and Astronomy).

We seek outstanding candidates with research interests in theoretical, computational, modeling, and/or simulation of materials science (and related fields) and the application of advanced AI and ML approaches to accelerate, improve, or revolutionize the same. Research spanning all aspects of materials, including soft/hard matter, inorganic/organic materials, etc. is welcomed, as long as that research maps significantly to one or more of the RAMI core research areas, including: 

• Next-generation Electronics/Photonics – Developing materials to enable a new paradigm in microelectronics ranging from memory/logic to communications to sensors and beyond, with a focus on low-power/voltage function.
• Energy Materials (Systems) – Developing materials innovations to transform energy storage, conversion, and harvesting.
• Materials for the Environment – Developing materials innovations to assure responsible use of natural resources and long-term stewardship of our air, soil, and water resources.

This effort is being initiated through RAMI, a campus-wide institute with the goal of expanding Rice’s already strong efforts in materials research across many departments in science and engineering. RAMI includes >75 current faculty members from more than a dozen departments working on a wide array of research that overlap with RAMI’s core research focus areas. Rice considers efforts to bolster these areas as a focal point of materials research in the coming years.

The selected candidate will be expected to teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses within their expertise and a home department; perform high-quality research in their specialized area and present findings from their research in peer-reviewed publications and conferences; establish a strong research program supported by extramural funding; be involved in service to the university and broader scientific community; and collaborate with faculty in diverse disciplines. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to teaching, advising, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

We welcome the fullness of diversity to Rice. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Also, in our candidate pools, we seek to attract greater representation of women, scholars of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who have historically been underrepresented in advanced materials; attract students from a wide range of countries and backgrounds; accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff varied in background and thought; and maintain an environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our community.

About the Rice Advanced Materials Institute
The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) serves as the catalyst for materials research across Rice University. Bridging the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing and the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, RAMI fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to solve global challenges in energy, sustainability, national security, information technology, and beyond. The Institute supports a vibrant community of scholars and provides access to world-class shared instrumentation and facilities, enabling faculty to push the boundaries of fundamental and applied materials science.

About the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing
Rice University's George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is a top-ranked program that empowers the next generation of leaders with strong technical and communication skills, creative problem solving and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams. For more information, please look at the School's website.

About the Wiess School of Natural Sciences
The Wiess School of Natural Sciences at Rice University is a school with a global vision, where the universe serves as our laboratory. Driven by deep curiosity, our faculty and students explore everything from the smallest subatomic particles to the farthest reaches of the cosmos and every scale in between. Across all our disciplines, the mission remains the same: to advance discovery.

About Rice University
Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and also one of the most diverse cities in the country with rich cultural activities and robust economic opportunities. Rice has a vibrant research enterprise including world-class research centers, institutes, and interdisciplinary initiatives and >$212M of yearly research expenditures. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 4,200 graduate students. Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of U.S. universities. The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing and the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, and their departments, at Rice consistently rank among the top programs in the U.S.  

Applications will be reviewed in a rolling fashion but should be received by 11:59 PM (Eastern time) on November 20, 2026. Applications received after this deadline will be considered as they arrive and until the position is filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply early for full consideration.

To apply, please submit the following materials through Interfolio:

1. A cover letter that summarizes your qualifications for this position
2. A full curriculum vitae
3. A research statement that addresses your proposed future work (grounding in your prior efforts) and how these future efforts map to the RAMI core research areas and wider efforts at Rice University (up to 3 pages)
4. A statement of teaching philosophy and/or teaching interests (up to 2 pages)
5. A statement of service and/or how you would contribute to the development of a broadly inclusive learning community at Rice through teaching, research, and/or service in your field (up to 2 pages)  

In addition, candidates are asked to provide the names and contact information for (at least) three (3) and no more than four (4) references as part of the application, which will automatically be solicited at the time of application.