The pay rate for this position is $7,000.00 per month and is non-negotiable.

Research Scientist I

Under minimal or general guidance from the principal investigator, the Research Scientist classification is intended to provide a career path for experienced researchers who have attained a doctoral or equivalent degree. The Research Scientist will have experience sufficient to enable the employee to conduct all manner of research such as independently conducting complex scientific research or scholarship.

Research scientists are expected to work independently, generate grant funding for projects and publish research results. The Research Scientist may be a principal investigator on grants if he/she holds an SDSU adjunct faculty appointment and meets any additional requirements of his/her academic department.

Job Responsibilities (95%)

• Advanced Material Characterization (15%): Design and execute complex experiments to investigate the mechanical behavior of nontraditional materials (such as polymers, composites, or smart materials), focusing on their response to extreme conditions or high strain rates.
• Terahertz Spectroscopy & Imaging (30%): Utilize and refine Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy and imaging techniques to non-destructively evaluate material properties, detect sub-surface defects, and map internal stress distributions.
• Multiscale Modeling Integration (10%): Develop and validate constitutive models that bridge experimental findings with theoretical mechanics, ensuring that empirical lab data accurately inform predictive modeling of complex material systems.
• Grant Proposal Leadership (15%): Take a primary role in securing research funding by identifying opportunities, performing preliminary feasibility studies, and authoring high-quality grant proposals for agencies such as the DoE, NSF, DoD, or NASA.
• Lab Mentorship & Dissemination (15%): Oversee the daily operations of the laboratory, including the mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students, while leading the preparation of manuscripts for publication in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.

• Laboratory Compliance & Safety Management (5%): Serve as the primary Point of Contact (POC) for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) standards, ensuring that all experimental setups, terahertz laser equipment, and chemical handling protocols comply with university and federal safety regulations.
• Budget Oversight & Procurement (5%): Manage the strategic procurement of specialized equipment and consumables, including tracking expenditures against active grant budgets and coordinating with SDSU’s administrative offices for contract renewals and vendor relations.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

• Help with outreach activities and lab tours for potential participants and collaborators
• Assist in day-to-day operation in the lab, including education, mentorship, research, and collaboration activities
• Help bridging laboratory innovations with industrial partners

MINIMUM EDUCATION

• Doctoral or equivalent degree and a minimum of two (2) years of postdoctoral research. Additional requirements may be developed for particular academic disciplines.
• Qualifications generally equivalent to Instructor position in the particular discipline at SDSU

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS

• Prior experience with terahertz spectroscopy and imaging using fiber lasers and custom optics
• Prior experience with thermal, mechanical, dynamic, chemical, and physical properties of nontraditional materials and composites using advanced techniques
• Prior experience with laser-induced shock waves in different loading modes, including pressure, shear, and bending, and shock propagation diagnostics using interferometry and velocimetry.
• Knowledge of revising LabVIEW algorithms for controlling experimental setups using a broad range of electronics, including oscilloscopes, function generators, amplifiers, etc.
• Knowledge of the mechanics of polymers and composites as a function of a broad range of strain rates and loading conditions
• Ability to tackle challenging scientific problems and devise viable solutions
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines defined by the PI and timelines of ongoing and future projects

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.