Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425?acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

We invite applications for an experimental research postdoctoral position in the Smith Materials Lab led by Associate Prof. Hillary Smith in the Physics Department at Swarthmore College. The Smith Materials Lab is an interdisciplinary group of undergraduate students and research staff that thrives on teamwork and welcomes diverse candidates to join us.

The opportunity:

We invite applications for an experimental research postdoctoral position in the Smith Materials Lab led by Associate Prof. Hillary Smith in the Physics Department at Swarthmore College. We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with a PhD in materials science, physics, applied physics, mechanical engineering or closely related field. Applicants with strong experimental skills and experience in neutron or X-ray scattering are especially encouraged to apply.

This DOE-funded position is for a research project aimed at investigating dynamics in glass-forming liquids. Ongoing projects study a variety of glasses including metallic, oxide, molecular, and chalcogenide glasses. Neutron scattering experiments, with a focus on quasielastic and inelastic measurements, are performed at national user facilities, particularly the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The postdoctoral fellow will be encouraged to lead the project, collaborate with the PI and undergraduate students on high-impact publications, and present at key conferences in the field.

The Smith Materials Lab is an interdisciplinary group of undergraduate students and research staff that thrives on teamwork and welcomes diverse candidates to join us. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills and a keen interest in developing leadership and mentoring skills. The successful candidate will work closely with undergraduate students at Swarthmore College. Therefore, demonstrated teamwork ability and experience in mentoring is required.

The position provides plenty of opportunities to interact with faculty, postdocs, and undergraduate students in other departments at Swarthmore College and with national and international collaborators.

This is a limited term position and is on an annual renewal basis. 

Essential Responsibilities

• Perform neutron scattering experiments, analyze, and interpret data (30%)
• Write beamtime proposals and scientific research papers, and present research in written and oral form internally and externally (30%)
• Perform lab-based materials preparation and characterization (15%)
• Mentor undergraduate research students (15%)
• Perform lab chores and instrument maintenance (10%)

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• PhD in materials science, physics, applied physics, mechanical engineering
• Demonstrated background in condensed-matter physics
• Demonstrated mathematical and computational skills
• Experience with spectroscopy

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

About Swarthmore College

Since its founding in 1864, Swarthmore College has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. Offering a liberal arts and engineering curriculum, the College is private, yet open to all regardless of financial need. It is also decidedly global in outlook, drawing students from around the world and all 50 states. The diversity of perspectives represented by Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff - including different viewpoints, identities, and histories - contributes to the community's strong sense of open dialogue and engagement with ideas and issues.

Connections working at Swarthmore College