Postdoctoral Scholar - Research Associate

USC Department of Ophthalmology is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Materials Science. Working directly under the supervision of Mark Humayun, MD, PhD, the Postdoctoral Research Associate works closely with a variety of team members, including from different laboratories in support of achieving timeline driven project milestones.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate in Materials Science with expertise in materials characterization, corrosion science, and materials protection for medical device application. The successful candidate will conduct advanced research focused on understanding the relationships among material composition, microstructure, processing, environmental exposure, degradation mechanisms, and performance.

The successful candidate will conduct experimental research focused on understanding relationships among material composition, microstructure, surface condition, environmental exposure, corrosion behavior, and performance.

The position will support multidisciplinary research involving advanced materials characterization, electrochemical testing, corrosion and degradation mechanisms, and development or evaluation of corrosion-mitigation and surface-protection strategies.

Essential job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Design and conduct research on corrosion, materials degradation, and protection of engineering materials.
• Perform electrochemical corrosion testing, including techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization, cyclic polarization, linear polarization resistance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
• Conduct materials characterization using techniques such as SEM/EDS, EBSD, XRD, optical microscopy, surface analysis, and related methods.
• Characterize microstructures, surfaces, corrosion products, protective films, coatings, and material interfaces.
• Investigate relationships among processing, microstructure, environment, corrosion mechanisms, and material performance.
• Evaluate corrosion-control approaches, including coatings, surface treatments, inhibitors, and other protection strategies.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data and maintain accurate research documentation.
• Prepare peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and other research deliverables.
• Collaborate with faculty, students, research staff, and external research partners.
• Assist with mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers and contribute to research proposal development.
• Follow University laboratory safety requirements and established research protocols.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Corrosion Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field, completed by the position start date.
• Research experience in corrosion science, materials degradation, electrochemistry, materials characterization, or materials protection.
• Hands-on experience with electrochemical testing and/or advanced materials characterization techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, and interpret research findings.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SEM/EDS, EBSD, XRD, XPS, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, or related characterization methods.
• Experience with EIS, polarization techniques, accelerated corrosion testing, and environmental exposure testing.
• Experience investigating localized corrosion, passivity, environmentally assisted cracking, or other material degradation mechanisms.
• Experience with protective coatings, surface treatments, inhibitors, or corrosion-mitigation technologies.
• Familiarity with relevant ASTM, ISO, and/or AMPP corrosion and materials-testing standards.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.
• Experience mentoring students and contributing to collaborative or externally funded research projects.

Follows established USC and department policies, procedures, objectives, performance improvement, attendance, safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines, including adherence to the workplace Code of Conduct and Compliance Plan.

This position is on-site and employee must report to work at the USC Health Science Campus in Los Angeles, CA when scheduled. Work hours and on-site days may be subject to change depending on business needs.

The annual budgeted salary for this position is $70,304. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Corrosion Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field, completed by the position start date.
Research experience in corrosion science, materials degradation, electrochemistry, materials characterization, or materials protection.
Hands-on experience with electrochemical testing and/or advanced materials characterization techniques.
Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, and interpret research findings.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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