Ceramics Apprentice Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Information
General Information
Position Number
POST40
Working Title
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Division
Academic Affairs
Department
College of Engineering (Col)
Work Unit
Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science
Work Location
Duke
Vacancy Open To
All Candidates
Position Designation
Post Doc
Employment Type
Temporary - Full-time
Hours per week
40
Work Schedule
Varies
Pay Rate
$48,000-$53,000
Minimum Experience/Education
A Postdoctoral Fellow (""postdoc"") is a professional apprenticeship designed to provide recent Ph.D. recipients with an opportunity to develop further the research skills acquired in their doctoral programs or to learn new research techniques, in preparation for an academic or research career. In the process of further developing their own research skills, it is expected that Postdoctoral Fellows will also play a significant role in the performance of research at the University and augment the role of graduate faculty in providing research instruction to graduate students. A Postdoctoral Fellow works under the supervision of a regular faculty member, who serves as a mentor to the Fellow, and it is expected that the faculty mentor will impart the realities, and variety, of scientific careers, and will encourage experiences outside the laboratory to broaden postdocs' aspirations. Within the confines of the particular research focus assigned by that faculty member, the Postdoctoral Fellow functions with a considerable degree of independence and has the freedom (and is expected) to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of appointment. Thus, the role of Postdoctoral Fellows is clearly differentiated from full-time technical employees.
Postdoc appointments are characterized by all the following conditions:
* the appointee was recently (within the last five years) awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D.);
* the appointment is temporary;
* the appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship;
* the appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full-time academic and/or research career;
* the appointee works under the supervision of a faculty member; and
* the appointee has the freedom and is expected to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of appointment.
As an EOE/AA employer and an ADVANCE Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte encourages applications from all underrepresented groups. Applicants subject to criminal background check.
The candidate chosen for this position will be required to provide an official transcript of their highest earned degree.
The candidate chosen for this position will be subject to a criminal background check.
The appointment length will be for up to 12 months, with the potential for extension based on performance and the availability of funding.
Departmental Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education:
Seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to become part of our additive manufacturing (AM)research group at Additive Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (AMTL) within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a strong background in metal/ceramic AM to advance the manufacturing process for near-net-shape parts using powder feedstock methods such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and binder jetting AM. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the field and a deep understanding of the mechanical behavior of materials. Experience with LPBF and binder jet machines is crucial for this role.

1. PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
2. Previous experience in material/process development of metal/ceramics
3. Experience with LPBF and binder jet machines
4. A proven track record of productive and innovative research, as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals
5. A solid background in the mechanical behavior of materials
6. Proficiency in multi-physics FE simulations, topology optimization, and working knowledge of machine learning (ML) algorithms
7. Demonstrated exceptional problem-solving abilities, a passion for collaborative research, and a commitment to making a tangible real-world impact

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Perform fundamental theoretical and experimental research on LPBF and binder jetting of metallic/ceramic materials
2. Plan and execute intricate experiments, and systematically gather as well as analyze the resulting multimodal datasets
3. Formulate and integrate constitutive models for LPBF and binder jetting AM into FE codes for application in process optimization studies
4. Utilize ML algorithms and optimization frameworks in conjunction with FE simulations to develop process optimization framework for metal/ceramic AM
5. Collaborate with fellow researchers and technical staff to discuss simulation, production, and material characterization
6. Author and publish original research articles in peer-reviewed journals

Other Work/Responsibilities
Necessary Licenses or Certifications
Proposed Hire Date
01/15/2026
Contact Information
Expected Length of Assignment
12 months (1 Year)
Posting Open Date
09/24/2025
Posting Close Date
01/01/2026
Special Notes to Applicants
The candidate chosen for this position will be required to provide an official transcript of their highest earned degree.
The candidate chosen for this position will be subject to a criminal background check.
Submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae and the following:

• Research statement describing your background and interests (1-2 pages)
• Provide contact info for 3 references
• Include a sample publication.