Research Scientist in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The University of Virginia, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, is seeking a highly motivated applicant to join the Center for Applied Biomechanics (CAB) as a Research Scientist.

The CAB is a globally recognized research center dedicated to advancing safety through rigorous biomechanics research. CAB integrates experimental testing, computational modeling, and real-world crash data analysis to advance the understanding of human injury mechanisms and to improve protection systems across automotive, sports, and military environments. Internationally recognized as a leader in injury biomechanics, the center studies how the human body responds under impact conditions and translates this knowledge into effective injury prevention strategies.

• Conduct a combination of computational analyses and experimental investigations in automobile safety, vehicle crash worthiness, and in injury biomechanics
• Supporting team efforts to apply for and obtain competitive research funding support
• Publish results in high-impact journals
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students

• PhD or a master's degree with significant experience in mechanical or a related engineering discipline by the start date.

• Demonstrated ability in finite element modeling, particularly with the LS‑Dyna or VPS solver
• Experience in crash/impact simulations and the development of vehicle, dummy, and human body models, including the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) and the Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) models
• Expertise in the field of automobile safety and injury biomechanics
• Experience in numerical model creation including laser scanning and medical image segmentation to obtain 3‑d geometries, and the use of Hyper Mesh or similar software to mesh these geometries for use in finite element modeling
• A demonstrated record of academic publishing and conference presentations
• Superior oral and written communication skills.

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