Post-Doctoral Fellow

JOB TITLE

Post-Doctoral Fellow

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Mechanical & Materials Engineering- NFR JM

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute- WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral researcher in the area of optical sensor development for structural integrity assessment. The successful candidate will contribute to a research project focused on developing and validating a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor for measuring strain on Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels. This work is a collaborative effort between academia and industry, and it will be conducted under the mentorship of Prof. Ahmet Can Sabuncu at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

Salary: $60,000 annual. The position is full-time and for one-year, with the possibility of renewal contingent on continued funding and performance.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Required skills and qualifications:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in experimental design, data acquisition, and quantitative analysis.
• Familiarity with digital data acquisition systems and sensor integration.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, professional reports and presentations to for industry partners and funding agencies.
• Strong analytical background to investigate pressure-strain-stress relationships in composite materials.
• US Citizenship or permanent residency is required due to sponsor restrictions.

Desired/Optional qualifications:

• Motivation to engage in proposal development and future funding applications, in collaboration with the PI and project partners.
• Interest in exploring related applications of FBG sensing, such as in aerospace, civil infrastructure, or biomedical systems.
• Familiarity with composite material behavior, strain-based sensing, or finite element modeling is a plus.

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A letter of interest describing your qualifications, research interests, and alignment with this position.
• A current CV.
• Two representative publications (published or preprints).
• Contact information for three academic or research references.

Applications received before October 1, 2025 will be given full consideration. Target start date is October 15, 2025.

US Citizenship or permanent residency is required due to sponsor restrictions.

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.