Postdoctoral Scholar

Unleash YOUR Potential With Us

As a next-generation public research institute, we are an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to shape the future and solve the world’s most challenging problems. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role in pushing us forward to become among the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with uniquely talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges, and multiple campuses and regional locations. That means greater challenges to tackle, more meaningful opportunities to grow, and rewarding experiences that go beyond a paycheck. We’re seeking qualified, motivated individuals who will help UCF fulfill its mission of unleashing the potential of every individual, enriching the human experience through inclusion, discovery, and innovation; and propelling broad-based prosperity for the many communities we serve.

College of Engineering and Computer Science:

The UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science is among the nation's largest producers of engineering and technology workforce talent and we are the No. 1 provider of graduates to the defense and aerospace industries. We have more than 40 degree and certificate programs within the college and are continuing to grow. Our students, faculty, and alumni address society's greatest challenges and aspirations in aerospace, computing, energy, the environment, healthcare, transportation, and more. Our education and research efforts are supported by a strong neighboring industry presence such as L3Harris Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Duke Energy, Siemens, Walt Disney World, and NASA, to name a few.

The Opportunity:
The University of Central Florida (UCF) department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering invites enthusiastic applications from highly motivated and talented individuals for a Postdoctoral Scholar position with focus on experimental testing of high-temperature materials, solar receivers, and thermochemical reactors.   The Post Doctoral Scholar will be supported by a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funded three-year project, focusing on the design and lab-scale testing of high-temperature thermochemical reactors for solar and other renewable energy conversion and storage. The scholar will co-lead a collaborative research team with members from three universities, one clean energy start-up company, and a DOE national laboratory (Sandia) for a prototype reactor development and demonstration. The scholar will also help Dr. Li organize group meetings, co-mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and publish high-impact scientific journal articles and conference papers.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, or a very closely aligned field.
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in studying fluid-solid interactions, reactive material reduction/oxidation kinetics, and high-temperature radiation transfer is highly desired.
• Experience in studying material reactivity at high temperature using TGA/DSC or mass spectrometer is highly desired.
• Experience in designing and operating thermal/fluid systems using high-temperature furnaces is desired.
• Experience with material characterization such as XRD, SEM, micro-CT scan etc. is desired.
• Expertise in experimental design and testing of high-temperature materials and energy systems such as solar receivers, chemical reactors, or heat exchangers.
• A team player that is able to work together with external collaborators on chemical reactor design, model validation, and reactor scale-up, and possess good oral and written communication skills.
   

Are Benefits Important to You?

Working at UCF has its perks!  In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:

• Benefits packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off, including annual and sick leave and paid holidays
• Retirement savings options
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions
• Education assistance
• Flexible work environment
• And more…For more benefits information, go to the UCF Employee Benefits page and click here.

Who Are We?

Founded in 1963 to fuel the region’s talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our students and society. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger, and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university. UCF is one of 14 universities nationwide designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Research 1 university. With 13 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 220-degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete, online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.s., certificates, and more.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of higher education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to employment in research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty positions (including employed visiting positions), graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral scholar positions, and undergraduate positions.

Department

College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Type of Appointment

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Expected Salary

$57,000.00

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer including Disabled/Vets.  Click on UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement to view the President’s Statement.

The UCF affirmative action plans for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected Veterans are available for inspection in the Office of Institutional Equity, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., upon request.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request. 

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.