Postdoctoral Associate (No Visa Sponsorship)

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University of Maryland

Location: College Park, Maryland
Category: Admin-Other Administrative Positions
Application Deadline:

Job Description

Position Number:

10501214

Title:

Postdoctoral Associate

Functional Title:

Postdoctoral Associate (No Visa Sponsorship)

Category Status:

15-Fac.Non-Tenured,Continuing Con

Applicant Search Category:

Faculty

University Authorized FTE:

100

Unit:

ENGR-Mechanical Engineering

Campus/College Information:

Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.

Vaccine Protocol

The University of Maryland has made the safety of our students, faculty and staff, and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University requires that students, faculty, and staff on the UMD campus be vaccinated against COVID-19. As a prospective and/or a new employee at UMD, you will be required to comply with the University’s vaccination protocol. Proof of full vaccination will be required before the start of employment in order to work at any University of Maryland location. Prospective or new employees may seek a medical or religious exemption to the vaccination requirement at return.umd.edu and must have an approved exemption prior to the start of their employment. Failure to provide proof of vaccination or to obtain approval for a medical or religious exemption will result in the offer of employment being rescinded.

Position Summary/Purpose of Position:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, announces multiple open postdoctoral positions focused on the development of novel materials and systems for thermal management of power and microelectronic systems, energy storage, cryogenic systems, wideband gap materials, and Machine Learning based electrothermal analysis of devices. The Postdoctoral Associate will perform research under the direction of PIs – Dr. Samuel Graham and Dr. Damena Agonafer.

The project objectives include the development of a novel thermal management system for high power electronic devices employing evaporative cooling technology, evaporative membrane design for low surface tension dielectric coolant and the development of a revolutionary composite metal/organic phase change material for transient thermal management, novel ALD/CVD/PVD surface coating and structures for immersion boiling enhancement. In addition, we will be deploying physics informed neural network modeling to predict the electrothermal behavior or high power rf devices.

Anticipated responsibilities include the assembly and/or modification of specialized test equipment and facilities, the development and application of novel measurement techniques, the performance of detailed measurements and analyses, and interactions with collaborators. Also, duties will include the development of a PINN modeling framework for electrical and thermal response under various bias conditions. Familiarity with neural network modeling and GaN rf-devices will be important.

Candidates are expected to be self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and as an integral member of a team. The postdoctoral appointment would entail performing research, mentoring of students, and helping with project management and fundraising activities, including presentations to sponsors and preparation of proposals. Strong oral and written communication skills, as evidenced by refereed journal publications and conference presentations, are essential.

Project Descriptions:
1. Thermal management of high powered electronics using thin-film evaporation and immersion boiling.

a. Design and development of an evaporating cooling module for cooling of high-powered micro- and power electronics. A test rig and environmental chamber will be designed for benchtop testing to be integrated with sensors and DAQ. Two-phase evaporation simulations using VOF and UDFs in ANSYS-Fluent are also required.

b. Fundamental studies of boiling heat transfer that includes fabrication of novel boiling enhancement surfaces to enhance critical heat flux and heat transfer coefficient and development of an immersion cooling test rig.

2. Development of novel metal/organic hybrid phase change material (PCM) for energy storage and electronics transient thermal loading.

a. Study of a novel phase change materials which includes synthesis of the materials, conducting different thermophysical property measurements using DSC, thermal conductivity measurement apparatus etc, developing an experimental test rig to study the thermal performance of the phase change material. Thermal simulations to study the transient thermal performance of the materials is required.

3. Neural network ML modeling to predict the RF device performance and failure mechanisms.

a. This project involves physics informed neural network modeling of the electrothermal response of GaN RF devices. A combination of experimental data and hybrid data/modeling approaches will be used to tain the neural network for performance prediction of RF GaN HEMT devices. PINN modeling required use of the NVIDIA SimNet toolkit to solve for electrical and thermal transport.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, applied physics, or a closely related field.
Extensive background in heat and mass transport, synthesis of materials, or nanoscale thermal transport is required.

Experience:

Prior experience in one or more of the following is required: designing and conducting experiments (multiphase flow, phase change materials, nanoscale transport), microfabrication, electrochemistry, microfluidic visualization methods, CFD/2-phase simulations, nanoscale thermal/electrical mobility simulations, and neural network modeling of device behavior.
Experience in the application of machine learning in a two-phase heat transfer study is a plus.

Posting Date:

12/14/2022

Open Until Filled

Yes

Best Consideration Date

01/13/2023

Diversity Statement:

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Women, minorities, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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