Postdoctoral Scholar Position - Autonomous Polymer Processing and Interface Engineering

About the role

The Department of Polymer Science, Engineering, and Technology at Penn State Behrend seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar to help establish a data-enabled autonomous polymer processing and interface engineering platform. The position is led by Prof. YuanQiao Rao, whose research focuses on processing–structure–interface–property relationships in multi-material polymer systems, with applications in overmolded electronics, advanced manufacturing, coatings, and sustainable polymer processing.

Responsibilities

• Help establish a data-enabled polymer processing and characterization platform.
• Design and execute experiments on processing–structure–interface–property relationships.
• Develop DOE-based experimental plans for overmolding, composites, adhesion, and reliability studies.
• Support setup of sensor-rich or semi-automated processing/testing workflows.
• Develop SOPs for processing, testing, data capture, and sample handling.
• Conduct mechanical, interfacial, surface, and failure analysis experiments.
• Analyze data using statistical, DOE, and/or machine-learning-informed approaches as appropriate.
• Mentor undergraduate students working on related projects.
• Contribute to manuscripts, conference abstracts, technical reports, and external proposals.
• Support industry engagement and laboratory demonstrations.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in polymer science, materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
• Strong experimental background in at least one of the following areas: polymer processing; polymer interfaces or adhesion; coatings or thin films; composites or overmolding; mechanical testing and failure analysis; data-enabled manufacturing or automation.
• Ability to work independently in a developing laboratory environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Interest in mentoring undergraduate students.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with injection molding, extrusion, coating, additive manufacturing, or related polymer processing methods.
• Experience with adhesion testing, lap shear, peel testing, burst testing, leak testing, or fracture/failure analysis.
• Experience with surface treatments such as plasma, silane chemistry, oxidation, primers, or surface cleaning protocols.
• Experience with polymer/substrate interfaces, fiber-matrix interface, electronics packaging, or high-performance thermoplastics such as PPS, PEI, PEEK, LCP, or related materials.
• Experience with DOE, statistical analysis, Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Arduino, PLCs, sensors, data acquisition, or machine-learning-assisted experimentation.
• Experience with microscopy, FTIR, XPS, contact angle, DSC, TGA, DMA, rheology, or related characterization methods.
• Demonstrated ability to build or improve experimental setups, workflows, or laboratory capabilities.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in polymer science, materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
• Strong experimental background in at least one of the following areas: polymer processing; polymer interfaces or adhesion; coatings or thin films; composites or overmolding; mechanical testing and failure analysis; data-enabled manufacturing or automation.
• Ability to work independently in a developing laboratory environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Interest in mentoring undergraduate students.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

Pay

Appointment Start date: Flexible; Target start of Fall 2026 or Spring 2027. Earlier start dates may be considered for exceptional candidates.

Schedule

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Application Materials

• Cover letter describing research experience, platform-building interests, and with qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Research statement, preferably 2–3 pages, describing relevant experience and proposed contributions to autonomous polymer processing/interface engineering.
• Contact information for three references.
• Optional: one representative publication or technical report.

Contact

If you have questions about the position, please contact Prof. YuanQiao Rao at yuanrao@psu.edu.