Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Artificial Intelligence for Chemical, Materials, and Manufacturing Engineering

Role details

The William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (https://cbe.osu.edu/) and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (https://mse.osu.edu) at The Ohio State University invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Artificial Intelligence. This is a joint appointment with a 70% tenure-home appointment in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a 30% appointment in Materials Science and Engineering. The anticipated start date is August 2027, although a later start date may be negotiated.

This position is part of Ohio State's strategic investment in Artificial Intelligence and seeks candidates whose research advances the development and/or application of AI methodologies that accelerate scientific discovery, engineering design, manufacturing, decision-making, and innovation. We welcome candidates conducting research that spans foundational AI, scientific machine learning, and AI-enabled engineering applications.

The successful candidate will develop innovative research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and engineering disciplines relevant to chemical engineering, materials science, manufacturing, energy, sustainability, biotechnology, health, or related fields. The research should prioritize materials discovery for a broad range of applications including but not limited to catalysis, membranes, soft matter and biomaterials. Candidates are expected to establish a vigorous externally funded research program and contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations across the university.

Candidates pursuing either fundamental advances in artificial intelligence or transformative applications of AI to chemical, materials, and/or manufacturing systems are encouraged to apply.

Immigration/visa sponsorship may be available in limited situations, but all decisions concerning immigration/visa sponsorship will depend on an evaluation of complexity and risk. We will not engage in immigration sponsorship for this position for individuals subject to the J-1 two-year home residency requirement or who will require consular processing for a visa to come to the United States to begin work at the university.

AI at The Ohio State University

AI is reshaping education and research, and Ohio State is at the forefront of this transformation, unlocking exponential possibilities when AI is fused with different fields. The university is committed to excellence in artificial intelligence and advancing the university’s role as a national and global leader in AI-driven discovery, education, and societal impact. In support of this commitment, Ohio State will hire 100 new tenure-track faculty with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) over five years to drive innovation and create a central hub, the AI(X) Hub, to provide resources and foster collaboration.

This university-wide hub will span 15 colleges and unlock the exponential possibilities that emerge when AI is fused with expertise across six strategic pillars (X): foundations, health, engineering and sciences, agriculture, cybersecurity, and trustworthy AI. The AI(X) Hub will cultivate an innovation ecosystem where cross-disciplinary synergies fuel breakthroughs with profound societal impact by:

• Creating a dynamic intellectual hub to harness Ohio State’s vast expertise where AI scientists and domain experts across the university can collaborate to accelerate groundbreaking research and transformative innovation
• Advancing fundamental AI research to push the boundaries of AI
• Establishing a collaborative hub that unites researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders
• Developing cutting-edge AI products that reach billions and drive meaningful change
• Delivering solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges
• Empowering the next generation of AI leaders through accessible AI education, mentorship, and skill development for all Ohio State learners

In addition to the AI(X) Hub, three AI Faculty Cohorts have been created: Foundational AI, Applied AI and Responsible AI and Cybersecurity. The Foundational AI Cohort will primarily focus on elevating the theoretical, mathematical and algorithmic underpinnings of AI. The Applied AI Cohort will primarily focus on harnessing AI to revolutionize the translation of ideas to real-world solutions for Ohio and beyond. The Responsible AI and Cybersecurity Cohort will primarily focus on ensuring ethical innovation and safeguarding digital landscapes for a secure future.

Position Overview

This is a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will establish an internationally recognized and externally funded research program that advances artificial intelligence and its integration with engineering and scientific discovery. The faculty member will contribute to the education of undergraduate and graduate students, participate in interdisciplinary initiatives spanning engineering and data science, and engage in service activities that support the missions of the departments, college, and university.

Performance Objectives

The candidate will be expected to help further our mission of educating undergraduate and graduate students in CBE and MSE, encouraging the exchange of ideas, methods, and insights between different fields of study, advancing the state-of-the-art knowledge in CBE, MSE, and allied fields through novel and sustained research, serving the public, academic, and industrial communities through consultation, collaborative efforts, dissemination of research results, entrepreneurship, or participation in conferences of professional societies, and valuing different perspectives.

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements

Ideal candidates will demonstrate significant AI expertise as a core element of their scholarship whether through the creation of new AI methods or novel use of AI techniques that materially advance knowledge, methods, or practice in their discipline.

For this search, “AI” includes (but is not limited to) Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Optimization for/with ML, Probabilistic Modeling, Trustworthy/responsible AI (fairness, safety, privacy, robustness, interpretability), Human-centered AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision, Robotics, Scientific/Physics-informed Machine Learning (ML), AI Systems and Infrastructure, Domain-driven AI advancements in and across disciplines.

In addition to the disciplinary requirements for potential selection as a faculty, a qualified candidate will develop, advance, or rigorously evaluate AI methods, lead AI-centered applications that produce generalizable methodological advances (e.g., new algorithms, models, evaluation frameworks, datasets/benchmarks, or system designs), design/adapt AI approaches to solve previously intractable questions in a domain leading to generalizable insights advancements.

Routine use of off-the-shelf AI tools that does not produce

methodological innovation

, or

field-advancing knowledge

is not sufficient for an AI faculty hire for this initiative.

*Required* :

• Earned doctorate in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or a closely related field by the time of appointment;
• Demonstrated expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, scientific computing, or related areas;
• Research that integrates AI with chemical engineering, materials science, manufacturing, energy, sustainability, biotechnology, health, or related fields
• Evidence of research accomplishments and strong potential to establish an independent, externally funded research program;
• Evidence of scholarly achievement through peer-reviewed publications and presentations;
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

*Desired* :

• Experience with interdisciplinary collaborations;
• Experience developing computational methods, software tools, datasets, digital infrastructure, robotics platforms, or autonomous experimental systems;
• Interest in technology translation, entrepreneurship, industry partnerships, or commercialization;
• Evidence of leadership potential in emerging areas of AI-enabled research and education.

Additional Information

The final offer for this position will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Salary and start-up packages are negotiated by the department chair and may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits packag

For questions regarding this position, please contact Nicholas Brunelli at [email protected].

Application review: https://apply.interfolio.com/194269

Review of applications will begin by November 1st, 2026.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.