Open Postdoc Position at the University of Utah (Aerospace, Computational Mechanics, Data Science)

A new center at the University of Utah is being formed to lead cross-cutting aerospace materials research. The center will support the missions of NASA, DOD, DOE, and local aerospace industry in Utah with applications in structures, multifunctional materials, energy storage, and radiation shielding. The center is directed by Dr. Mike Kirby and Dr. Jacob Hochhalter.

A highly qualified postdoc is sought to support the center through aerospace materials and sustainment research, proposal development, and networking with researchers and industry across Utah. Specifically, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following: executing independent research in physics-informed machine learning for materials modeling; proposal literature review, writing, formatting, and proof-of-concept studies; assisting with direction of existing research group(s); submission of peer-reviewed journal articles; and engaging students at local youth-in-custody facilities through STEMCAP.

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent with experience in computational mechanics, scientific computing, or data science. The initial term of the position is one year with the possibility for renewal. The expected start date is January 1st, 2023, but flexible. Pay will start at $54K/year with benefits totaling $28K/year. Continuation of the position and opportunities for advancement will be contingent on performance which will be reviewed every six months. To apply, please send (1) your CV with a complete list of publications and contact information for at least two references; (2) a copy of your most representative paper to kirby@cs.utah.edu and jacob.hochhalter@utah.edu.

The University of Utah is a tier 1 research institution that is home to more than 30,000 students, world-class faculty and researchers, a medical campus, and many start-up companies. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, fueled by the State of Utah’s Engineering Initiative, and currently houses more than 40 tenure-line faculty members, over 1,000 undergraduate and 250 graduate students (150 PhD students).

The University of Utah campus is situated in Salt Lake City, a growing, increasingly diverse, metropolitan city with a population of 1M nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. The greater SLC valley is an important economic hub of the mountain west and is home to several large technology and fortune 500 companies. SLC residents enjoy a highly accessible and walkable downtown with vibrant restaurants, sports, nightlife, LGBTQ+ and cultural events. Salt Lake City residents enjoy easy access to national parks (8 within a few hours’ drive), world-class skiing/snowboarding (7 resorts within 1 hour), hiking, fishing, biking, and rafting/kayaking. In addition, faculty members enjoy free access to public transportation and the convenience of an international airport located only 15 minutes from campus.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the U is committed to recruiting, welcoming, and supporting a diverse community of undergrad and graduate students, postdocs, scientists, staff, and faculty. The department’s EDI statement is available at: https://www.mech.utah.edu/department/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/