Career Opportunities

Funded by an NSF collaborative grant between Professor James MacKay (Elizabethtown College) and Eriks Rozners (Binghamton University), we are continuing the hiring process for a unique organic postdoctoral position opening for 2026 aimed at preparation and training for a future faculty position at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution. The position will be for one year, renewable for a second.  The start date is negotiable with the expectation to begin teaching in either the Spring 2026 or Fall 2026 semesters (start date is flexible). The job posting is available online at:

https://etown.peopleadmin.com/postings/6753

The project involves the design and synthesis of peptide nucleic acid monomers capable of recognizing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). The candidate will expand the project on sequence-specific recognition of dsRNA using triplex-forming peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) in new directions. Primarily, they will be responsible for design and synthesis of new PNA monomers for incorporation into PNA to modulate the structure and function of complex non-coding regulatory RNAs. Though the majority of the work will involve synthetic chemistry, the project spans the subdisciplines of chemistry with computational, biophysical, and chemical biology components. Mimicking the responsibilities of a PUI faculty member, the Postdoctoral Associate will be responsible for teaching introductory undergraduate lecture and laboratory courses. The load will involve two or three courses per year and the candidate will work alongside Elizabethtown College chemistry faculty within the School of Sciences and Health receiving extensive mentoring in the area of teaching. We anticipate this as an excellent mentoring opportunity for any PhD who wishes to establish a research active career at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution.

This will be the second time we are offering this opportunity. The first time was a huge success (please see the press release below) and we are delighted to offer this NSF supported training opportunity again. 
https://news.etown.edu/index.php/2024/08/19/teaching-and-research-postdoctoral-associate-leaves-indelible-mark-on-elizabethtown-college-department-of-chemistry-and-biochemistry/

The review of applications are ongoing and will continue until the position is filled. Interested candidates may contact Professor James A. MacKay (mackayj@etown.edu) with questions.

The Department of Chemistry at Bryn Mawr College invites applications for a full-time, continuing non-tenure-track Lecturer position to begin August 1, 2026. The successful candidate will contribute to the laboratory and lecture portions of our organic chemistry curriculum and have the expertise to teach general chemistry and other courses as needed. A Ph.D. is required and experience teaching at the college level is highly desirable.

To apply for this position, candidates must submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and a statement of teaching philosophy describing their holistic pedagogical approach for student success to the Chemistry Department Search Committee via Interfolio at: https://apply.interfolio.com/170437 . Applications received by October 3rd, 2025 will receive full consideration. In addition, candidates should arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted via Interfolio to the Chemistry Department Search Committee.

Bryn Mawr College is a distinguished liberal arts women’s college with a vibrant faculty, a talented staff, and an intellectually engaged student body eager to make a difference in the world. We have a student body of about 1,400 undergraduates and more than 300 graduate students in coeducational graduate programs in social work, humanities and science. Bryn Mawr College is located in metropolitan Philadelphia and enjoys strong consortial relationships with Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania. Bryn Mawr College is an equal-opportunity employer.

Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology
2026 Vagelos Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship
Application Deadline: Monday, October 13, 2025

The Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology (VIEST) at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications for the Vagelos Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship. This highly competitive fellowship is awarded to outstanding future leaders in energy science who also emphasize collaborative work across research labs. Completed applications are due by Monday, October 13, 2025. Final decisions will be announced by January 2026.

VIEST Postdoctoral Fellows will be supported annually with a $70,000 stipend and benefits, a $10,000 research fund, and up to $2,000 for professional travel. A one-time relocation reimbursement of up to $2,000 is also available.

Eligibility and Qualifications

• Fellows must be co-sponsored by at least two faculty members of the Institute. Applicants are encouraged to contact at least one faculty member well in advance of the application deadline to advise on proposal and collaboration development.
• Applicants must have completed all requirements for their doctorate by the fellowship start date, and their PhD should have been awarded no longer than three years before the application close date. Fellows are expected to begin their appointment by September 1, 2026.
• This program is intended to recruit outstanding new talent to Penn and is therefore limited to applicants who are not current Penn postdocs at the application deadline.
• Fellows will be eligible for support for up to two consecutive years.
• VIEST Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to play a leadership role in the development of collaborative research throughout the Institute. The proven ability to thrive in a leadership role in a collaborative environment and highly developed communication skills will be critical skills for success.
• Fellows are expected to be committed to their personal professional development and participate in training to improve skills in science communication and leadership.

How to Apply

Completed applications are due by Monday, October 13, 2025, and must include:

• A joint letter of nomination from the proposed Penn postdoctoral sponsors.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation. One letter must be from the applicant’s thesis advisor and comment specifically on the applicant’s ability to learn from and contribute to a multi-disciplinary and collaborative research environment. The second letter should be from an individual well acquainted with the applicant’s PhD research.
• The nomination and recommendation letters must be on letterhead and emailed directly to Erika Martinez (erima@upenn.edu) by no later than 5 pm ET on October 13, 2025.
• The applicant’s current CV.
• A three-page research proposal detailing the work planned during the fellowship period. The proposed research must be aligned with the research priority of the Institute to address large-scale energy research challenges that would significantly mitigate climate change. The contribution that each faculty sponsor will bring to supporting the fellow in the research should be clear. References and/or Works Cited are not counted toward the three-page limit.
• A two-page personal statement that includes a description of the applicant’s PhD research project (written for a scholar outside the major field of study), and a discussion of the applicant’s career goals.

The research proposal and personal statement must be standard letter-size page, 1-inch margins, and at least 11 pt font.

The CV, proposal, and personal statement must be combined into one pdf file and emailed to Erika Martinez (erima@upenn.edu) by no later than 5PM ET on October 13, 2025. Please use the subject “VIEST Postdoctoral Fellow Application - [Your Name]” and name the PDF attachment “YourNameApplication.pdf”.

Review Criteria

Postdoctoral Fellowships will be awarded on the basis of academic excellence, a demonstrated likelihood of leadership capability within the Institute and among the next generation of energy scientists and engineers, as well as the alignment of the research proposal with the goals and research priorities of the Institute.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Application deadline: September 19, 2025

The Department of Chemistry at Bryn Mawr College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the areas of physical and analytical chemistry to begin August 1, 2026. The successful candidate will contribute to the general chemistry and physical chemistry curriculum, including upper-level laboratory courses. They will also play an integral role in regularizing analytical chemistry in the curriculum. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue external funding and have a robust research program involving students that yields peer-reviewed publications. A Ph.D. is required by the start date, and post-doctoral research experience is highly desirable.

Bryn Mawr College is a distinguished liberal arts women’s college with a vibrant faculty, a talented staff, and an intellectually engaged student body eager to make a difference in the world. We have a student body of about 1,400 undergraduates and more than 300 graduate students in coeducational graduate programs in social work, humanities and science. Bryn Mawr College is located in the greater Philadelphia area and enjoys strong consortial relationships with Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania. Bryn Mawr College is an equal-opportunity employer.

To apply for this position, candidates must submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a statement of proposed research (limited to five pages), and a statement of teaching philosophy describing their holistic pedagogical approach for student success to the Chemistry Department Search Committee via Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/170426). In addition, candidates should arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted via Interfolio to the Chemistry Department Search Committee. Applications received by September 19, 2025 will receive full consideration.