Collaborative Hypersonic And Missile Defense Faculty Research at AFIT

How to Apply

Click on the "Apply" button at the bottom of the opportunity to start your application.

The Air Force Institute of Technology is offering a faculty research fellowship in Collaborative Hypersonic and Missile Defense at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The fellowship focuses on Hypersonic Vehicle development, including configuring new geometries, modeling and simulating the vehicle response to aerodynamic, structural, and thermal loading conditions, and conducting physical experiments for validation.

• Engage with AFIT Graduate School of Engineering and Management Faculty in Hypersonic Vehicle development.
• Configure new geometries, model and simulate vehicle response using computer packages such as ABAQUS, NASTRAN, CAPS, Mat Lab, DAKOTA, Kestrel, FUN3D, etc.
• Develop and apply methods for predicting vehicle response under multiple flight paths, maneuvers, high‑speed impacts, and varying load conditions.
• Compute stresses, deflections, and buckling resistance to assess the vehicle’s sustainability and resilience.
• Use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to predict aerodynamic pressures and analyze vehicle stability, survivability, fatigue life, and resilience under extreme operating conditions.
• Participate in physical experiments for validation and assess manufacturability of high‑temperature materials.
• Share state‑of‑the‑art methods and expertise through short courses, lectures, and discussions with DoD scientists and engineers.

Dayton, Ohio

Exact start dates will be determined at the time of selection. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and fellowships will be filled as qualified candidates are identified.

Faculty appointments are generally for 10‑12 weeks during the summer, but appointments during the academic year are also available.

• Stipend determined by AFIT, based on academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location.
• Health Insurance Supplement – participants may purchase health insurance through ORISE.
• Relocation Allowance.
• Training and Travel Allowance.

The mission of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is to help build America’s airpower by educating military and civilian Airmen to innovate and accomplish the Air Force’s core missions efficiently and sustainably. AFIT offers defense‑focused, research‑enabled, multi‑disciplinary advanced academic education and global career‑long continuing education.

The program is administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage ORISE. Participants do not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DoD, or any other office or agency. Participants must have health insurance, obtainable through ORISE.

Candidate must be a current faculty member at an accredited U.S. 4‑year university or 2‑year college.

• Zintellect Profile
• Educational and Employment History
• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)
• Resume (PDF)
• One Recommendation – recommenders will rate your scientific capabilities and personal characteristics.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen only.
• Degree:
  Doctoral degree.
• Discipline(s):
  Chemistry and Materials Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Earth and Geosciences, Engineering, Environmental and Marine Sciences, Life Health and Medical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and other non‑science & engineering disciplines.

I affirm that I am a current faculty member at an institution of higher education.

Leslie