Job Description

About the Opportunity

The Kostas Research Institute (KRI) at Northeastern University (NU) – a rapidly growing institute that conducts cutting-edge applied R&D – is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Scientist I or II with expertise in materials science & engineering. The Research Scientist is expected to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the successful execution of R&D projects. The level of this position (I or II) will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

Responsibilities include providing subject matter expertise and experimental contributions in the development of stimuli-responsive materials capable of detecting and creating optical signals. This position will require the candidate to employ a wide variety of laboratory techniques to incorporate optically dynamic small molecules and bio-inspired materials into functional technologies. These efforts will include fundamental characterization of optical materials, as well as design, fabrication, and evaluation of sensors, displays, and microfluidic networks. The Research Scientist will work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams across the KRI consortium, consisting of academic and industry partners, to create solutions and prototypes for projects in these application areas.

Successful candidates should have a strong background in analytical/bioanalytical chemistry, materials science/engineering, or a related discipline, with demonstrated experience in translation of fundamental chemical/materials discoveries into proof-of-concept prototypes. The candidate should have interests in managing highly collaborative research efforts with chemists, physicists, biologists, and engineers, and will be expected to contribute to research proposals and reports, write manuscripts, and mentor student employees or interns. A close working relationship with and support of KRI Senior R&D Engineers/Scientists for government and industry contracts will be required.

The Kostas Research Institute was founded focusing on homeland security research and development. Today, KRI strives to advance resilience in the face of 21st-century risks across a wide range of technologies, emphasizing a collaborative approach that leverages our R1 university intellectual capital and technologies to develop application-specific solutions to customer needs. KRI focuses on satisfying customer-driven needs by co-locating a diverse, highly skilled R&D team that can address all aspects of a particular problem across the full range of technology-readiness levels. KRI headquarters, located at the NU Innovation Campus in Burlington, MA (ICBM), is home to one-of-a-kind research and test facilities for conducting activities related to cognitive and distributed RF signal processing and machine learning, unmanned and autonomous system technologies, as well as quantum materials and sensing.

This position is with KRI at Northeastern University, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NU. The primary office for this position is located at NU’s ICBM. Through NU, KRI offers an impressive benefits package, including multiple retirement plan options with extremely generous matching, as well as tuition waivers for classes and advanced degree programs. A full description of available benefits can be found on the NU website

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

Minimum: A MS degree in analytical chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, materials science, or a related field
Preferred: A PhD degree in analytical chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, materials science, or a related field
Skills/Attributes

US Citizenship with the ability to obtain a DoD security clearance.
Strong technical expertise and demonstrated independence in design and execution of experiments
Excellent communication skills
Strong background and proven track record in analytical chemistry or materials science and familiarity with microfluidics, device engineering, electronics, and/or color science
A basic understanding of characterization techniques including UV–Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR spectroscopy, particle size analysis, and optical/electron microscopy
Familiarity with rapid fabrication techniques (e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting