Postdoctoral Position in Mechanics of Flexible Structures at UCLA

See this URL for the most up-to-date information: https://tinyurl.com/scilab-postdoc-2021

We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow with a background in solid and structural mechanics to work on the mechanics of slender and flexible structures. Some experience with machine learning and artificial intelligence will be helpful. At the very least, the candidate should be good with computer programming (ideally C/C++ and Linux environment). They should have the confidence and a track record to quickly master analytical and software tools in new fields. The postdoctoral fellow will work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. They will be supervised by Prof. M. Khalid Jawed (Structures-Computer Interaction Laboratory of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) and will collaborate with another research group(s) at or outside of UCLA.

The research project aims to use a combination of (1) discrete differential geometry-based simulations [see Ref. 1] and (2) tabletop experiments using collaborative robots (our lab is equipped with two Sawyer robots). The simulation tools build on prior works in the field of computer graphics [see Ref. 2]. Potential topics may include the mechanics of knots tied in elastic rods, machine learning-based constitutive behavior, smart manufacturing (in collaboration with Smart Manufacturing Institute, UCLA), inverse design of flexible and/or programmable structures [see Ref. 3], etc. 

Requirements:

• Experience with computer programming (C/C++) and Unix-based operating systems. The postdoctoral fellow will be working with a codebase written in C++. He/she will be extensively using remote clusters

• Ph.D. in engineering, sciences, or mathematics from a renowned university (students in their final year of the doctoral program are also eligible) with a focus on solid/structural mechanics or computer graphics or machine learning

• Ability to quickly master analytical and software tools in new fields (e.g., robotics, computer vision)

The position is intended to be for two years to allow for significant progress in the project and in the career development of the candidate. The initial appointment, however, will be for one year, with a performance evaluation and a possible extension for a second year. The start date is flexible.

Applications should be emailed to khalidjm@seas.ucla.edu. Please submit the following documents as a single pdf: (i) one-page cover letter (including names of at least two referees), (ii) detailed CV, and (iii) two sample publications. Applications received by December 1, 2021 (check this URL for the most up-to-date information), will receive full consideration; however, applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

UCLA is located in the Westwood district of Los Angeles, close to the Pacific Ocean, mountains, forests as well as the hubs for aerospace and entertainment industries.

Below is a list of representative publications that the candidate should be able to read, understand, and implement.

References

• Representative publication on DDG: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-319-76965-3

• Representative publication on Computer Graphics: https://doi.org/10.1145/1778765.1778853 

• Representative publication on inverse design: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b03171