Postdoctoral Scholar – Shelf-Stable Food Systems & AI-Enabled Supply Chains: Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering

Postdoctoral Scholar – Shelf-Stable Food Systems & AI-Enabled Supply Chains: Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering

Position Overview

Organization: Industrial & Systems Engineering

Title: Postdoctoral Scholar – Shelf-Stable Food Systems & AI-Enabled Supply Chains: Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering

Position Details

Position Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on:

• Development of shelf-stable, nutritious whole-grain meals using advanced processing technologies (e.g., MATS, retort systems)

• AI-enabled modeling and optimization of perishable food supply chains, including cold chain monitoring, predictive analytics, and digital twin frameworks

This position integrates food engineering, data science, and supply chain systems, with strong connections to industry and federal research initiatives.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will conduct independent and collaborative research under the supervision of faculty mentors while contributing to publications, proposals, and translational outcomes. This position is designed to prepare the candidate for a research career in academia, industry, or government.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct research on:

•

• Shelf-stable whole-grain food formulation and processing

• Thermal processing technologies (MATS, microwave, RF, retort)

• Food safety, shelf-life, and nutrient retention

• Develop and apply AI/ML models for:

•

• Shelf-life prediction and quality degradation

• Cold chain monitoring and anomaly detection

• Supply chain optimization and resilience analysis

• Integrate experimental data with physics-based and data-driven models

• Conduct laboratory, pilot-scale, and/or computational research

• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences

• Contribute to proposal development (e.g., USDA NIFA, NSF)

• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and external partners

The application deadline is April 15, 2026.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Juming Tang (jutang88@uw.edu) to discuss their interests in this position prior to the application deadline. This research position is offered for 2 years (24 months), and may be renewed based on performance.

The ideal starting date is June 1, 2026. The postdoctoral scholar will be hosted in the UW Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Tang. The scholar is also expected to interact with a large number of collaborators, stakeholders, graduate students, and industrial partners.

The base salary range for this position will be $80,172-$81,000 per year, or as mandated by the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collectivebargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information,please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website:https://hr.uw.edu/labor/about-labor-relations.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in:

•

• Food Engineering, Food Science, Agricultural/Biological Engineering

• Demonstrated research productivity (peer-reviewed publications)

• Expertise in at least one of the following:

•

• Food science/ thermal processing / shelf-stable foods

• Supply chain modeling or optimization

• Excellent communication and scientific writing skills

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams

Desired Qualifications

(Strong preference for candidates with combined expertise in food systems and data science)

• Experience with thermal processing and shelf-stable food systems

•

• e.g., retort processing, microwave/RF heating, food safety validation

• Familiarity with at least of one of the following areas:

•

• Cold chain logistics and perishable food systems

• Sensors, IoT, or real-time data systems

• Digital twins or cyber-physical systems

• Experience with experimental design and statistical analysis

• Demonstrated ability to:

•

• Work with industry partners and translate research into applications

• Mentor students and manage research tasks

• Strong background in food engineering (thermal processing, formulation, shelf-life)

• Complementary experience in data science/machine learning applied to food systems

• Interest in translational research (e.g., school meals, MREs, public health impact)

Instructions

To apply, please submit an application through Interfolio(insert the link here) that includes the following:

• Cover letter describing research interests and fit

• Curriculum Vitae

• Research statement (1–2 pages)

• Contact information for 2–3 references

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Equal Opportunity

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the Univ