MRL Awards, Employment, and Funding

Professor Joe Greene Postdoctoral Fellow

Information on next cohort available Fall 2024

These prestigious postdoctoral positions are designed to support outstanding early-career scientists and engineers specializing in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, and related fields. Successful candidates will initially be appointed as full-time Postdoctoral Research Associates for one year, with the option of a second year. This program is available thanks to an endowment created by Phyllis Greene, Joe’s wife of 55 years, to honor Professor Joe Greene (Dr. J.E. Greene),  who was a distinguished faculty member in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a former director of The Materials Research Laboratory. Prof. Greene was renowned for his enduring impact and dedication to fostering the careers of young scientists and emerging leaders in the fields of materials science engineering, basic science, and applied technology. Read more about Professor Joe Greene's Legacy. 

Fellows in the 2024-2025 class are expected to be made in late January 2024. 

Information on the next cohort will be available in the fall of 2024. 

  • Fellows receive an annual salary of $65,000 and a $5,000 research budget that can be spent on research activities including supplies and equipment, and professional development activities including conference and workshop travel.
  • Fellows are appointed annually for up to two years.

  • Ph.D. degree or equivalent within the last 10 years.
  • Relevance of the stated research interests to the portfolio of the MRL.
  • Graduate students and Postdoctoral Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are eligible to apply.
  • The application package includes three letters of reference:
    • At least two of the three letters should address the applicant’s prior professional experience.
    • One letter may come from a proposed MRL faculty mentor. Note, an MRL faculty member can provide a letter even if that faculty member has not agreed in advance to host the applicant should they be selected.
  • Fellows in the 2024-2025 class should start their appointments between February 2024 and December 2024 of the award year. 

 

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PPG-MRL Graduate Research Assistantship Award

Information on next cohort available late Spring 2024

 

Under support of the PPG Foundation, the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) offers annual PPG-MRL Graduate Research Assistantship Awards. The PPG-MRL program supports doctoral-level students conducting research broadly related to coatings science. Targeted areas include materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, condensed matter physics, and related areas of study. We strongly encourage women and students from underrepresented groups to apply. To learn more about PPG, visit http://corporate.ppg.com/Home.aspx. 

Information on the next cohort of awards will be available in late spring/early summer 2024.