Postdoctoral Research Associate - Additive Manufacturing of Metals and Ceramics

The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, candidates to apply for the Postdoctoral Research Associate - Additive Manufacturing of Metals and Ceramics position.

Since its inception in 1996, the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering has brought innovative, real-world engineering education to Central Virginia. Comprised of five different departments plus the Deans office, the College of Engineering enrolls more than 2,000 undergraduate and 450 graduate students in several degree programs supported by more than 600 full-time, part-time, and student employees. As part of a premier research university known for tenacity, love of the city of Richmond, and commitment to respect and access, the College of Engineering values the significant and positive impact of our people and ideas in the promotion of regional and global prosperity involving research and life sciences.

Position Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to develop and expand upon a diversified technical skill set while making a positive contribution to the new Cold Spray and Advanced Materials Processing Laboratory under development.

Research projects for this position will involve researching and developing structural and functional materials using additive manufacturing processes such as cold spray, wire arc additive manufacturing, and friction stir processing. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in developing processing-microstructure-property correlations. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in advanced materials (metals and alloys) processing, metal/ceramic matrix nanocomposites, and characterization. In this position, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work and collaborate with a vast network of scientists and engineers across a consortium of multiple universities and industries.

Required Qualifications:

- Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or closely related field.
- Excellent experimental skills in materials processing (metals and ceramics) and their characterization using advanced tools (electron microscopes, x-ray diffraction and nanoindenter) for the study of microstructure and mechanical properties.

- Excellent communication skills, including technical writing skills

- Ability to mentor junior team members and ensure the highest levels of laboratory safety

- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a postdoc at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience in the advanced processing of materials such as Cold Spray, Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing and Friction Stir Additive Manufacturing. Those with experience in both processing and characterization would be preferred.

- Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams

- Demonstrated excellent technical writing skills.

About the College of Engineering:

Additional information about the departments programs and faculty may be found at .

VCU is transitioning to a new application system beginning October 1, 2025 . If you apply before that date, you will be asked to resubmit your application in the new system once the system is live. Clear instructions will be provided at that time. We appreciate your understanding during this transition and look forward to reviewing your application.

FLSA Status: Exempt
ORP Eligible: Yes

Salary Range: $55,000 - $58,000/ year

Position Details:

Department: College of Engineering- Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Employment Type: PD - Post Doc
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 100
Exemption Status: Exempt

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Emily Perrault

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