Assistant Professor in Radiochemistry/Nuclear Forensics - Tenure Track | Department of Chemistry (Pullman, WA)

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

October 18, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor

Business Title:

Assistant Professor in Radiochemistry/Nuclear Forensics - Tenure Track | Department of Chemistry (Pullman, WA)

Employee Type:

Faculty

9 Month - Summer

The Department of Chemistry at Washington State University invites applications for a permanent, full-time, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Experimental Radiochemistry/Nuclear Forensics. This position is being established as a strategic collaboration between Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to strengthen research and workforce development in radiochemistry, nuclear forensics, and national security-related sciences. We seek applicants who will: develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program in radiochemistry, nuclear forensics, or closely related areas; contribute to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education; and engage in service activities that support the mission of the department, college, and university. Preference will be given to applicants whose research complements existing strengths in the department, the university, and the nuclear science center and has the potential to foster collaborative opportunities with national laboratories, industry, and other academic partners, especially PNNL.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish a vigorous research program that advances the fields of radiochemistry and/or nuclear forensics through innovations in areas such as radiochemical separations, actinide chemistry, nuclear material characterization, radioanalytical chemistry, isotope science, environmental radiochemistry, nuclear safeguards and security, forensic analysis of nuclear materials, and related disciplines. The position is eligible for a joint appointment between WSU and PNNL and provides unique opportunities to collaborate with PNNL scientists and leverage capabilities available through the WSU-PNNL research partnership.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Research (60%):

• Develop and maintain an innovative, competitive, vigorous, and nationally and internationally recognized research program in radiochemistry and/or nuclear forensics that spans both WSU and PNNL, leveraging facilities at both institutions.

• Establish and maintain external research funding in support of the research program.

• Develop collaborative research activities involving WSU faculty, students, and scientists at PNNL.

• Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate researchers.

• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to national scientific leadership in the field.

Teaching (20%):

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in chemistry either in-person or online, including radiochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and related areas.

• Develop new courses and training opportunities that support workforce needs in radiochemistry and nuclear forensics.

• Mentor student research and contribute to graduate education.

Service (20%):

• Participate in departmental, college, university, and professional service activities.

• Contribute to outreach, recruiting, and workforce development activities aligned with WSU's land-grant mission and national needs in radiochemistry and nuclear security.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin the appointment on August 16, 2027, with the potential for an early start in May 2027.

Posting Closing Date:

Applicants must submit their completed application by October 18, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Screening of applications will begin immediately thereafter and continue until the position is filled.

9-Month Academic Year Salary: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Successful candidates typically begin up to mid-point of the salary range.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the Summary of Benefits for WSU Faculty and AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering, with research focus on Radiochemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, Nuclear Forensics, or a closely related field by the appointment date.

• Demonstrated record of research achievement and strong potential to develop a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in radiochemistry, nuclear forensics, or a related area.

• Demonstrated scholarly productivity through a publication record consistent with the expectations of their career stage.

• Demonstrated potential for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring, including the ability to contribute to general chemistry and to develop or teach upper-division and graduate courses related to the candidate's expertise.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative, interdisciplinary research environments.

• Demonstrated record of supporting, or potential to support, access and opportunity in research, teaching, and service in alignment with WSU’s land grant mission.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Security Clearance in a timely fashion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral, national laboratory, industrial, or other relevant professional research experience.

• Research expertise in one or more of the following areas:

Radiochemistry

Nuclear forensics

Nuclear material characterization

f-block element chemistry

Radiochemical separations

Radioanalytical chemistry

Isotope science

Environmental radiochemistry

Nuclear safeguards and security

Nuclear nonproliferation science

• Experience working with radioactive materials.

• Demonstrated record of collaborative research involving multidisciplinary teams.

• Experience mentoring undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral researchers.

• Potential to establish productive collaborations with scientists at PNNL and other national laboratories.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Area/College: College of Arts & Sciences
Department Name: Chemistry
Location: Pullman, WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. External candidates should upload all documents in the "Resume/CV" section of the application. Internal candidates should upload all documents in the "Resume/Cover Letter" section.

• A letter of application (Cover Letter) addressing qualifications for this position and including a response to the following prompt:

As a land-grant university, we have a commitment to ensure access and opportunity in all aspects of our work. The successful candidate for this faculty position will have the experience, knowledge, and skills to build their research/scholarship/creative practice, pedagogy, curriculum, and service in ways that reflect and enhance this commitment. Using the job announcement for this position, please list and explain up to three areas of responsibility you see as related to fulfilling this mission.

• Curriculum vitae

• Teaching statement describing teaching experience, mentoring experience, and educational philosophy. 3-page limit

• Research statement describing previous accomplishments, future research plans, anticipated funding opportunities, and potential collaborations with WSU and PNNL researchers. 5-page limit

• Names and contact information for three professional references who can address the applicant's history of and potential for excellence in research, teaching, and service, which will be collected within the system at a later stage of the recruitment process. Letters of recommendation will be requested at a later stage of the search process.

Inquiries should be directed to:

Jack Zhang

Department of Chemistry
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 509-335-1269

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Full time

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

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