Postdoctoral Fellow in Mechanical Engineering

Overview

Institution: Colorado School of Mines (in partnership with NIST PREP)
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Position Title: Postdoctoral Fellow / PREP Research Associate
Location: Golden, Colorado
Employment Type: Full-time, Postdoctoral / Research Associate
Salary: $60,000 – $70,000 annually
Start Date: Flexible / Open until filled
Application: Online via Mines portal (upload CV and 3 references)

This role is part of the NIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP), a partnership between Mines and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Goal: Conduct cutting-edge research on fatigue and failure in additively manufactured metals, focusing on surface measurement science and quality assurance to improve fatigue life prediction.

Dual Mentorship: Collaborate with both Mines faculty and NIST scientists.

Surface roughness measurement and analysis for additively manufactured (AM) metals

Fatigue testing and fractography for AM metals

Fatigue modeling and computational analysis for AM metals

Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at meetings

Document protocols, software, and experimental data for organizational sharing

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Computer Science, or a related field

Proficiency with:

X-ray micro computed tomography (µCT)

Laser confocal scanning microscopy

Focus variation microscopy

Fatigue testing and fractography

Fatigue modeling

Strong oral and written communication skills

Supervisors: Dr. Joy Gockel (Mines) and Dr. Nik Hrabe (NIST)

Flexible health and dental care options

13 paid holidays per year, including week-long winter break

Fully vested retirement plan on first day, with generous employer contribution

Free RTD Ecopass

Access to campus Recreation Center, Outdoor Rec equipment rentals, athletics, and on-campus daycare

Mines is located in Golden, CO, near Denver and the Rocky Mountains

Offers outdoor recreation, historic downtown, and high-altitude climate

R1 “Very High Activity” research institution with ~7,000 students

Required Materials: List of three professional references

Focus: This position is ideal for candidates with expertise in mechanical testing, additive manufacturing, and surface characterization, looking for a hands-on research postdoc with strong opportunities for collaboration with NIST.