New

Postdoctoral Research Associate I

University of Arizona

life insurance, sick time

United States, Arizona, Tucson

Jul 08, 2026

Postdoctoral Research Associate I
Posting Number	req26413
Department	James C Wyant Coll Optical Sci
Department Website Link	https://optics.arizona.edu/
Location	Tucson Campus
Address	Tucson, AZ USA
Position Highlights	Advance groundbreaking research in polymer materials, optics, and 3D printing. The Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Polymer Materials under the guidance of Dr. Liang to develop organic and organic-inorganic hybrid polymeric materials with tailored optical properties and biocompatible photopolymers using advanced 3D printing technologies. Be part of a globally recognized community of innovators. The University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences is dedicated to providing internationally preeminent education, research, and outreach in the science and application of light and your work can help shape what's next. Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.
Duties & Responsibilities	Develop novel photopolymer resins for two-photon polymerization (TPP) and vat photopolymerization, with control over optical and mechanical properties. Design and evaluate biocompatible photopolymer formulations for 3D printing applications. Establish correlations between material composition, processing parameters, and optical, mechanical, and biological performance. Contribute to research project design and execution across optical and biomedical fabrication challenges.
Minimum Qualifications	A Ph.D. in chemistry, polymer science, materials science, biomedical engineering, or a related field. Demonstrated expertise in monomer synthesis and photopolymer resin formulation. Experience with material characterization techniques such as SEM, TGA, DSC, DMA, FTIR, and rheology, including biocompatibility assessment methods. Strong grasp of polymer chemistry fundamentals and photoinitiation mechanisms.
Preferred Qualifications	Experience with optical polymer design, including high-refractive-index or refractive index-tunable material systems. Familiarity with sol-gel chemistry and organic-inorganic hybrid materials for optical or biomedical printing. Experience with biocompatible hydrogel formulations (e.g., GelMA, PEGDA) and knowledge of ISO 10993 or USP Class VI standards. Experience with photo-based 3D printing platforms and process optimization. Familiarity with powder-based organic-inorganic liquid suspensions for composite photopolymer printing.
FLSA	Exempt
Full Time/Part Time	Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week	40
Job FTE	1.0
Work Calendar	Fiscal
Job Category	Research
Benefits Eligible	Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay	NIH salary guidelines, Depends on Experience.
Compensation Type	salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Type of criminal background check required:	Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies	1
Target Hire Date	7/20/2026
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates	Rongguang Liang \| rliang@optics.arizona.edu
Open Date	7/7/2026
Open Until Filled	Yes
Documents Needed to Apply	Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter
Special Instructions to Applicant
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report	In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures. Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.