Description
Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) and the Climate School (CCS) invite applications for a jointly appointed, tenured, chaired, full professor position in energy storage and electrochemical systems. This is a senior faculty role representing a strategic institutional commitment to problems that really make a difference at large scales.
We seek an exceptional scholar and leader with demonstrated expertise in electrochemical systems, energy storage technologies, and pathways to real-world implementation and impact. The successful candidate will bridge rigorous fundamental research with systems-level climate solutions, connecting molecular design to global impact modeling. They will also be expected to work across disciplines, bringing together diverse fields of knowledge to address the complexities of the energy transition. This position offers unique opportunities to engage with Columbia's comprehensive energy research ecosystem, from atomic-scale characterization and multiscale modeling to grid-level systems integration.
The successful candidate will establish an externally-funded research program addressing critical technical barriers to advancing energy storage technologies toward commercial viability and climate-relevant scale. They will integrate their work within Columbia's existing multiscale research ecosystem, collaborate across engineering and climate disciplines, and contribute to advancing technologies competitive on economic merit, balancing scientific discovery with commercial relevance.
Requirements
As a Full Professor with tenure, the candidate must hold a PhD in Earth and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, and demonstrate:
- Outstanding research accomplishments in electrochemical systems, energy storage, or closely related areas with a demonstrated path to implementation and real-world impact
- Expertise spanning multiple scales, from molecular/materials design through device engineering to systems-level deployment, with demonstrated success addressing materials, process, or systems-level barriers.
- Practical innovation perspective, with consideration of manufacturability, cost, and scalability as core design constraints
Track record of collaboration from university to industry, technology translation, building an academic team, and connecting to commercial relevance - Established leadership in their field, as evidenced by publications, citations, research funding, and recognition
- Excellence in teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels
Commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration across academic departments and institutional units
This position is intentionally structured to maximize flexibility and attract an exceptional candidate. The appointment will be a tenured position with SEAS home department placement and a joint appointment in the Climate School, with tenure contingent upon successful completion of the Columbia tenure process. The placement of the home department in one of the 9 academic departments of SEAS will be determined in close collaboration with the candidate based on their research focus and departmental fit within the school. Additional joint appointments in SEAS departments may also be possible.
