Associate Director, BioPACIFIC MIP

Position overview Position title: BioPACIFIC MIP Associate Director

Salary range: $88,371 to $141,646

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: February 2, 2026 or later.

Position duration: This is a one-year 100% appointment with possibility of renewal on an annual basis.

Open date: January 9, 2026

Next review date: Friday, Jan 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Saturday, Aug 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Associate Director, BioPACIFIC MIP

The BioPACIFIC MIP operates a state-of-the-art user facility dedicated to biomaterials discovery and development. This research eco-system integrates the very broad, disparate communities from Engineering, Materials, Biology, and Chemistry and enables materials innovation through high-throughput automation in synthetic biology and chemistry, characterization, computation, and data collection, analysis, and mining. BioPACIFIC MIP is seeking a motivated individual to lead the expansion of its world-class automated synthetic chemistry platform for novel biomaterials-driving engagement with industry, start-ups, and recharge users to both broaden the national user base and advance the program's long-term sustainability.

Reporting to the Executive Director and Director at UCSB of the NSF BioPACIFIC MIP, the Associate Director will drive innovation and industry relations, provide scientific oversight, and coordinate research activities. This role will cultivate an ecosystem that positions BioPACIFIC MIP within both current on-site facilities and new off-site UCSB facilities. They will strengthen connections with initiatives across the Colleges of Engineering (CoE), Mathematical, Life, and Physical Sciences (MLPS), and institutes such as the California Nano Systems Institute (CNSI).

Working independently yet collaboratively with BioPACIFIC MIP leadership, the Associate Director will develop and execute strategic plans that expand BioPACIFIC MIP's visibility, diversify funding streams, and accelerate the next generation of scientific innovation.

The Associate Director will have demonstrated success in leading cross-disciplinary research projects that integrate diverse technical domains and driving innovation from concept to execution. He/she will have an in-depth understanding of and experience with intellectual property strategy and scientific communication, with experience delivering high-quality technical reports and presentations to the NSF, internal and external partners, and stakeholders.

Strategic Program Planning & Management

* Work closely with BioPACIFIC MIP leadership to develop strategic plans for sustaining and growing translational research programs and promoting technology development, innovation, and outreach activities.

* Work closely with BioPACIFIC MIP leadership to report activities and results to NSF.

* Identify new strategic research areas and funding opportunities through interactions with a variety of stakeholders, including center faculty, federal and state funding agencies, private foundations, executive officers and founders of major corporations and startups, and local and regional investors and stakeholders.

* Develop and oversee shared research infrastructure within BioPACIFIC MIP to advance research, innovation, translation, work-force development, and entrepreneurship.

* Work closely with UCSB's Technology & Industry Alliances Office on relevant industrial partnerships, patent, and licensing issues.

* Work closely with BioPACIFIC MIP's Project Scientists to develop a Project Feasibility and Research Plan for both in-house researchers and external users.

Partnerships and Collaboration Research Opportunities

* Work closely with BioPACIFIC MIP Project Scientists to develop, order, and install new automated equipment and modify existing equipment to expand capabilities and improve workflows.

* Help integrate these tools with relevant characterization equipment and data gathering platforms.

* Support the design of research and equipment workflows to drive the research mission of BioPACIFIC MIP.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Biology, Bioengineering, or closely related field or related experience.

Preferred qualifications

• 3+ years of industrial and research experience
• Broad knowledge of the science and technology surrounding soft materials and automation.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience working in synthetic organic and polymer chemistry laboratories.
• Expertise in polymer synthesis, including radical ring-opening, controlled radical, and block copolymerization methods.
• Experience designing and synthesizing degradable and recyclable polymers for advanced materials applications.
• Skilled in…