Director, VLEST Core Instrument Facility

Director, VLEST Core Instrument Facility

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director, VLEST Core Instrument Facility

Job Profile Title

Director B, Research

Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania is seeking a highly qualified, motivated, and customer service-oriented scientist with extensive experience in surface-sensitive spectroscopic and thin-film characterization techniques.

Job Description

Job Description

The University of Pennsylvania is seeking a highly qualified, motivated, and customer service-oriented scientist with extensive experience in surface-sensitive spectroscopic and thin-film characterization techniques. This new position will have primary responsibility for the optimal operation, maintenance, budgeting, user training and support, user community building, and collaborative strategic planning for the surface, thin-film, and soft matter characterization instrumentation located in the Core Instrumentation Facilities of the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST). Current instruments for which this position is responsible are a J.A. Woollam IR-VASE Mark II Ellipsometer; TA Instruments Multi-Sample X3 DSC, Discovery TGA 5500+, and ARES-GS Rotational Rheometer (all newly acquired and installed in 2025), and a PHI Genesis Scanning XPS / AES system anticipated to be installed in 2026. Additional instrumentation, supported by the scientist's initiative, vision, and collaborative proposal writing efforts, is envisioned to be added in the future.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure optimal operation, maintenance and user support for surface, thin-film and soft matter characterization instrumentation in the VLEST Core Instrumentation Facility.
• Create, modify, and / or maintain methods and supporting documentation for training and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on instrumentation and site-specific safety protocols. Develop and disseminate new instrumentation methods, independently or collaboratively with the user community.
• Provide on-site user support, troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, including during extended hours outside regular business hours.
• Train and support users on instruments, including hands-on instruction in effective experimental design, software features, and data analysis.
• Liaise with campus partners to build an interactive community of internal and external (including industry) users, collaborators, PIs, and staff to enhance fee-for-service capabilities.
• Proactively keep abreast of new developments and emerging technologies in surface analysis, materials characterization, and related fields. Make recommendations for upgrades and new equipment to support the facility and users' needs. Participate in proposal-writing efforts to secure funding for acquisitions.
• Participate collaboratively in the submission of research publications, presentations, and intellectual property development resulting from facility use.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment and culture in the facility.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$79,500.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

To learn more, please visit : https : / / www.hr.upenn.edu / PennHR / benefits-pay

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

To apply, visit https : / / wd1.myworkdaysite.com / en-US / recruiting / upenn / careers-at-penn / job / Vagelos-Research-Labs / Director VLEST-Core-Instrument-Facility_JR00114274

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