UDRI is a national leader in scientific and engineering research, serving government, industry and nonprofit customers. UDRI contributes to the fulfillment of the University’s commitments to education, research and public service through the involvement of students, faculty and external partners. Established as the research arm of the University of Dayton in 1956, UDRI achieved $2.75 billion in cumulative sponsored research in 2020. Sponsored research for 2022 alone exceeded $220 million. Join our team as a Senior Researcher!

The person hired for this position will be located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Dayton, OH and will be employed within the Nonstructural Materials Division (NSMD) of UDRI. The NSMD focuses on the broad area of materials science and engineering for both aerospace and industrial clients in both the government and commercial sectors of the USA. The primary purpose of this position to act as a Senior Researcher and as a Team Leader for the Lubricant Evaluation and Performance Group of the NSMD at WPAFB. In the role of Senior Researcher, the candidate will conduct research and development activities on lubricants for gas-turbine engines. A person seeking to fill this position must possess a strong background in analytical chemistry methods to support the contractual tasks. An individual seeking this position is expected to give presentations, publish reports and papers. The candidate is also expected to lead and/or contribute to proposal writing efforts to maintain current customer relationships as well as develop relationships with new customers to secure new funding opportunities.


Minimum Qualifications
1) Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of experience in a directly related field, focused on chemistry, chemical analysis, materials engineering/science, or physics is required - OR - an M.S. and 7+ years, - OR - Ph.D. and 6+ years of experience in a directly related field focused on chemistry, chemical analysis, materials engineering/science, or physics
2) Experience with supervising individuals with technical degrees or technical backgrounds in a research environment
3) Proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
4) Documented experience with the following: developing test plans, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and generating customer deliverables such as reports, presentations and publications
5) Experience in program management with effective time management
6) Effective written and verbal communication skills
7) Strong presentation skills
8) Valid drivers license with low risk driving record
9) U.S. citizenship and meeting the requirements to obtain a Common Access Card (CAC) at WPAFB is required

Preferred Qualifications

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

1) Ph.D. and 7+ years of experience in Chemistry or related field (chemical engineering, materials science/engineering, or physics)
2) Experience beyond the PhD level working in the area of lubrication science or technologies where skills and experience are related/relevant
3) Expertise with analytical techniques such as GC-MS, HPLC, PDSC, FTIR, SFC, NMR, TGA, XPS, ICP, Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, XRD, and profilometry
4) Experience with tribological test methods and Hertzian contact mechanics
5) Documented experience independently identifying research projects, obtaining support for such projects, and successfully conducting or providing technical leadership in the resultant investigations
6) Experience with USG or DoD in executing tasks related to Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation contract or tasks
7) Basic computer programming skills, including incorporation into electronics as part of a mechanical design
8) Experience working with socially and culturally diverse communities
9) The ability to obtain and maintain an active DOD SECRET security clearance

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

A federal court on December 7, 2021, issued a ruling that suspends the COVID-19 vaccine requirement that applies to federal contractors nationwide. With this development, the University will pause any enforcement action against employees who have not complied with the requirement to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, 2021 or to have requested an exemption to maintain their employment status.

The University will continue to monitor the state of the pandemic on campus and in the community as well as developments in federal and state requirements, and also will continue to regularly consult with public health officials and our medical panel. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, our protocols and requirements are subject to change depending on conditions on campus or in our community, and government requirements.


 

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.