Assistant Professor (Material Science and Engineering)
Content + Source + Freshness • 13 Dec 2025 • 95% confidence
Offer value
High value due to position at MIT, focus on innovative research, and strong salaries.
- Highly competitive salary range at a prestigious institute.
- Focus on groundbreaking research in materials science.
- Impactful position with significant institutional support.
- Engagement with industry through applied research.
Pros
- Position at a globally recognized institution adds significant prestige.
- Opportunity to lead innovative research in computational materials science.
- Strong support for research and potential for high impact.
Cons
- High pressure and expectations for research output.
- Navigating academia can pose challenges due to competition.
- Potential for limited teaching load might impact engagement.
Who it's for
Advanced / Senior • On-site with potential research flexibility
Good fit
- Experienced researchers in computational materials science
- Academics with a passion for innovation and collaboration
- Individuals eager to work in a highly esteemed academic environment.
Not recommended for
- Candidates without significant research publications
- Those uninterested in high-pressure academic expectations
- Individuals seeking solely teaching-focused positions.
Motivation fit
Key skills
About the job
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) together with the Schwarzman College of Computing (SCC) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, seeks candidates at the level of tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin July 1, 2026 or on a mutually agreed date thereafter.
Materials engineering has always benefitted from theoretical and computational approaches to unveil relationships between structure, properties, processing, and performance. Recent advances in computing, including but not limited to artificial intelligence, are poised to dramatically advance the understanding and design of complex matter. DMSE and SCC jointly seek candidates with experience and interest in combining fundamental scientific principles with algorithmic innovations to empower discovery, understanding, and synthesis of materials with applications across critical societal domains --- healthcare, manufacturing, energy, sustainability, climate, and next-generation computing. This search encompasses all materials classes and scales, and is open to candidates with industry and start-up experience. Candidates are expected to develop research programs that target innovation in computational approaches well-suited to materials science and engineering research.
The successful candidate will have a shared appointment in both the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and SCC in either the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) or the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS), depending on best fit.
Faculty duties include teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, advising students, conducting original scholarly research, and developing course materials at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Candidates are expected to teach in both the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and in the educational programs of SCC. The normal teaching load is two subjects per year.
Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. A PhD is required by the start of employment. The pay range for a 9-month academic appointment at the entry-level Assistant Professor rank (excluding summer salary): $140,000 - $150,000. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements. These factors impact where an individual's pay falls within a range. Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including verifying any finding of misconduct (or pending investigation) from prior employers.
Applications should include: (a) curriculum vitae, (b) research statement, (c) a teaching and mentoring plan. Each candidate should also include the names and contact information of 3 reference letter writers, who should upload their letters of recommendation by November 30, 2025.
Please submit online applications to https://faculty-searches.mit.edu/dmse_scc/register.tcl . To receive full consideration, completed applications must be submitted by November 30, 2025.
MIT is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin. See MIT's full policy on nondiscrimination. Know your rights .
