Openings

Postdoctoral Research Associate:

The School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia is seeking qualified candidates for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in a newly established PSAAP IV predictive simulation center—Center for Stochastic Simulations of Ablative Geometries with Error-Learning in Space and Time (SAGEST). 

Research at the Center is focused on supercomputer simulations of extreme conditions experienced by hypersonic vehicles and quantifying the overall uncertainty. The candidate will assume the role of a software developer in the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Propulsion Laboratory, a participating lab in the Center. The Research Associate will be responsible for the development and maintenance of predictive software components, support integration into the full system, and assist with full-system testing and analysis. The candidate can expect to work with a multidisciplinary and multi-university team involving engineers, computer scientists, and mathematicians constructing a full-system package comprising predictive software, data analytics, and machine learning. The candidate will work closely with and report to the Software Architect of the research Center led by Dr. Xinfeng Gao.

As a software developer, the candidate must work closely with the Software Architect in developing and implementing plans for integrating software libraries performing I/O, adaptive mesh-refinement, data assimilation, and AI/ML in a manner that supports the participation of graduate students. The candidate may be expected to mentor PhD students in aspects of software development and usage.

Qualification Requirements: 

The candidate must have a PhD degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, or another related field by the start date, and research experience in computational engineering.

Preferred Requirements: 

The candidate must be able to demonstrate a deep knowledge of supercomputing software development for massively-parallel computer architectures, and expertise in working with large-scale software designed for cutting-edge engineering applications. Additional requirements include proficiency with C++ and parallel programming models, experience developing complex simulation software as part of a multidisciplinary team, familiarity with best practices in software engineering, and efficacy at communicating and planning with computer-facility technical staff. Experience with algorithms for hydrodynamic-scale CFD or kinetic-scale particle methods such as Direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) is preferred.

This position requires the candidate to be a U.S. citizen.

The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, with a starting base salary of $86,000/year. There will be a $3K relocation/start-up bonus.

Application Procedure: 

Apply online at the UVA job board and search for R0077534. Attach a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box.

Application Deadline: 

Review of applications will begin on October 30, 2025, but the position will remain open until filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

This is a one-year appointment, and the appointment may be renewed contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to Xinfeng Gao, Professor, at [email protected].

For questions about the application process, please contact Richard Haverstrom, Academic Recruiter, at [email protected].

For more information on the benefits available to Research Associate at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.

PhD Positions:

The CFD & Propulsion Laboratory is focused on developing advanced CFD algorithms and deploying them on the latest architectures. The selected candidate will work in a team environment to develop solution methods to complex engineering challenges, and they will have the opportunity to collaborate with multidisciplinary researchers from national labs and to intern in the national labs during the course of research. Research topics may require U.S. citizenship. We have several openings for PhD students in the following research topics:

1. Integrating Moving Embedded Boundary and Mapped Multiblock Techniques with Adaptive Mesh Refinement for High-Order CFD Algorithms

2. Parallel-in-Time CFD Algorithms

3. Integrating Data Assimilation and Deep Learning for CFD

4. Stochastic Uncertainty Quantification for Predictive Capability Assessment  

5. Development of Quantum Algorithms for Boltzmann equation

Nature and Scope of Positions:

The research scope for each position is developing technologies for moving and overlapping grids for fourth-order algorithms with adaptive mesh refinement, developing and applying space-time parallel algorithms, integrating HPC with data analytics, and exploring quantum algorithms for CFD, respectively.

Each position is best suited for a student who is adept at math, has a strong interest in highly logistical programming, keeps abreast of new computing architectures, and is passionate about aerospace engineering. Applications should include a demonstration of this interest; examples might include software development through work or studies, or hobbies such as programming games. The selected candidate will be funded throughout the PhD study.

Essential Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• B.S./M.S. in Aerospace Sciences & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer science, or Applied mathematics
• Background in CFD, computational methods, or scientific computing
• Strong and demonstrated interest in programming
• Experience in the development of numerical algorithms for partial differential equations is highly desired
• Interpersonal communication skills necessary to work effectively in a team environment
• Good technical writing and oral presentation skills in English

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of CFD and programming experience in C++ and Fortran
• Experience with parallel technologies including MPI, shared-memory programming models (OpenMP, POSIX threads), vector processors (SSE, AVX), and accelerators (Cuda, OpenCL)
• Experience with the design, implementation, deployment, and maintenance of software
• Experience with HPC systems and Linux
• Experience with scientific computing applications