Assistant Professor Position in Energy-Efficient Computing or Materials Circularity (Tenure-Track)

The Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), a dynamic joint institute of the University of Colorado-Boulder and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), dedicated to accelerating solutions in renewable energy, climate resilience, and sustainability through collaborative, cross-cutting interdisciplinary research, in collaboration with affiliated departments across campus, invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position at the Assistant level. We seek exceptional candidates conducting innovative, interdisciplinary research with a specific interest for those investigating energy-efficient computing, sustainable digital infrastructure, or materials circularity.

Areas of Interest:
RASEI is particularly interested in candidates whose research addresses challenges broadly across ways to improve energy efficiency, but with particular interest in one or more of the following focus areas:

Energy-Efficient Computing and Digital Infrastructure:
Including but not limited to:

• Low-energy database operations, data center design, and thermal management
• Novel computing architectures, including optical, superconducting, and neuromorphic systems
• Improving energy efficiency of training and using AI/ML, including model training optimization and algorithmic compression
• Materials and device innovations for low-power switching, displays, and memory
• Hardware-software co-design for minimizing the environmental impact of computing
• Carbon-aware software development: Design of software systems that are carbon-intelligent in terms of runtime, compute location, and job scheduling
• Edge AI and decentralized systems: Sustainable design for edge devices and federated learning GPH1, reducing dependence on centralized data centers
• Energy-aware AI for energy systems: Applying AI/ML to optimize energy grids, buildings, or industrial systems with a focus on efficiency and decarbonization

Materials Circularity and Critical Mineral Recovery and Use Strategies:
Including but not limited to:

• Circular electronics and sustainable design for computing hardware
• Recovery and recycling of rare earth elements and critical minerals
• Separation science, membrane-based extraction, or electrochemical purification technologies
• Substitution strategies and life-cycle assessment for application and a significant dependence on critical elements and minerals (e.g., for electronics, computing, and aerospace applications)

Candidates working at the intersection of differing aspects of these themes are especially encouraged to apply.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.