Postdoc position in atomistic simulations of grain boundaries in Mg alloys at UMich

A postdoctoral research associate opening with a primary focus on atomistic simulations of defects and mechanical behaviors of Mg and Mg alloys is available in Liang Qi’s group (http://cms.engin.umich.edu/) at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Qi’s group is involved in the PRedictive Integrated Structural Materials Science Center (PRISMS), a DOE-BES funded research center dedicated to integrated computational and experimental studies of structural alloys located at University of Michigan. One primary task of Qi’s group in the PRISMS center is to apply atomistic simulations to understand the effects of grain boundaries (GBs) on mechanical behavior in Mg and Mg alloys. We are developing an efficient genetic algorithm for predicting the minimum energy structures of GBs by considering both macroscopic and microscopic degrees of freedom for pure metals and alloys. The postdoc is expected to apply different first-principles/atomistic simulation tools to investigate the alloying effects on GB-dislocation interactions and the corresponding mechanical behavior variations (such as Hall-Petch Relation, ductility, etc.).

Candidates are expected to have strong backgrounds in computational materials science (in particular atomistic simulations), metallurgy and solid mechanics. They can send their CV with names of two references to Prof. Liang Qi (qiliang@umich.edu).