Research Methodologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Title Research Associate 2 About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department The Engineering and Design Department supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. About the Position

This research position in the Engineering and Design Department supports the mission of rigorous research opportunities for students with hands-on engineering experience. This position manages grant based and industry-partnered research projects in the Polymer Materials Engineering program focused on materials development and characterization in areas such as advanced composites, thermoplastics processing, additive manufacturing and sustainable materials. The primary activities of this position include: development of novel research methods using experimental design to measure properties of materials and performance of systems; implementing research methods to accomplish research objectives; verifying research methods are meeting research goals; analyzing experimental data; supervising research students; providing technical support to research staff and students; and communicating to internal and external stakeholders through technical reports, papers and presentations. This research is conducted in several labs in the Engineering and Design Department and shared research spaces on campus, and involves utilization of related equipment and processes. This position is responsible for ensuring a positive student research experience as well as the research outcomes, and supporting the Polymer Materials Engineering research classes - PME 495 (Directed Research in Polymer Materials Engineering) and PME 491-493 (the PME Capstone Project Series) when appropriate.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

25% - Design, develop and refine novel methods for data collection and assessment

• Perform literature reviews to determine current state of the art
• Exercise independent judgement to design non-routine research methods needed to measure key material properties or manufacturing process parameters
• Implement the designed method and verify if method has acceptable accuracy and repeatability to meet research goals; verify method is measuring properties needed
• Modify the method using experimental design until method is optimized; use experimental design to determine which parameters must be controlled until accuracy and repeatability is acceptable
• Train others to utilize the method; verify that others are properly implementing the method.
• Modify the method as necessary for use in multiple applications

25% - Supervise, advise and mentor research staff and students working on industry- and grant-sponsored projects

• Assign tasks to research staff and students working on research projects
• Mentor students including: periodically review progress, assist with troubleshooting, answer questions about assigned tasks
• Supervise collection of data to ensure validity and accuracy of results
• Train research staff and students to operate plastics processing machinery and analytical instrumentation
• Ensure safe lab practices are maintained
• Direct general laboratory operations as needed
• Coordinate student, faculty and staff on multiple research teams

25% - Implement research methods to accomplish research goals
Analyze experimental data and develop conclusions
Ensure that research methods are reaching research goals
Ensure completion of the experiment goals within the timeline, budget and scientific experiment parameters

• Utilize Design of Experiments methodology
• Perform research methods to generate raw data
• Analyze results including statistical analysis
• Develop conclusions based on results of experimental data
• Continuous improvement process to ensure research goals are met
• Time management to complete the required deadlines

15% - Communication with all internal and external stakeholders
Preparing written and oral reports of experimental results

• Prepare and distribute status reports that include data and results
• Write and edit academic papers and conference papers
• Present research results at appropriate technical conferences
• Write reports to external granting agencies
• Write reports to industry partners
• Network within the plastics and composite industry to develop relationships with industry
• Act as a contact for industry partners on research projects.
• Communicate with the faculty on the grant progress
• Communicate and collaborate with faculty on the development of research methods
• Communicate and coordinate with staff on lab scheduling, usage and equipment guidance
• Organize and schedule meetings for students, faculty and industry partners

10% - Grant proposal preparation and administration

• Identify and define research problems for grant applications
• Identify potential funding sources for current or potential research projects
• Write and edit grant proposals in conjunction with other faculty and research staff
• Communicate with Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) pre-award to ensure proposal compliance with grant regulations and budgetary requirements  
• Maintain database files, including management of data and administrative documents, associated with grant work
• Communicate with RSP post-award to ensure ongoing compliance with all appropriate grant regulations

This is a project-employment position ending no later than August 1, 2028.

Required Qualifications

• BS in Engineering, Chemistry, associated degree or equivalent education/experience
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Strong ability to multitask and prioritize project responsibilities
• Ability to recognize when guidance or direction is needed by students
• Self-motivated and able to work efficiently in a demanding environment
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, works efficiently in group settings
• Proven ability to manage a university level research project, or equivalent
• Extensive knowledge of thermoplastics and composites technology

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to operate plastic processing machinery and testing methods
• Well versed in Design of Experiments methodology
• Extensive knowledge and experience with analytical instrumentation such as TGA, FTIR, DMA, DSC, and Rheology
• Experience with additive manufacturing

Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations. Salary  Hiring range is $66,365 - $76,320/year depending on qualifications and experience.  Through longevity position tops out at $86,274/year. Benefits Information

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.

Application Instructions

A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications. Please include the names and contact information of three professional references. References will only be contacted if necessary, with notice provided beforehand.

Closing Date Notes Application review begins April 20, 2026; position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU's Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of Student Life at student.life@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.