Computational Materials Science In-Space Welding, Joining, and Additive Manufacturing

Computational Materials Science for In‑Space Welding, Joining, and Additive Manufacturing

4 days ago | Be among the first 25 applicants

Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code: 0017‑NPP‑MAR
26‑MSFC‑Interdisc

How to Apply: All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements:

How to Apply

| NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org). A complete application includes:

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

Final date to receive applications: 3/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is advancing welding, joining, and additive manufacturing (AM) processes for in‑space environments that will build structures and spacecraft components in Earth orbit, lunar orbit, the lunar surface, and beyond. The approach will incorporate Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) tools that link process modeling, metallurgical modeling, and atomistic techniques across physics and length scales. Tools will be calibrated alongside experimental data and materials diagnostics.

Areas of interest include novel and modified materials; CALPHAD modeling for phase stability, KWN modeling for precipitation, DFT and MD approaches, solidification modeling via Phase Field and other suitable techniques, CFD, FEA, and integration via AI/ML. These investigations will evaluate the effects of microgravity, reduced pressure, extreme temperatures, and thermal cycles on melting, solidification, and mechanical behavior in space. The postdoctoral scholar will develop and apply the ICME workflow for in‑space applications, innovate processes and alloys for welding, joining, and AM, and align with ISS, parabolic flight, and drop tower validation experiments.

MSFC possesses computational resources, materials diagnostics tools, and a history of microgravity experiments to support this work.

Field of Science: Interdisciplinary

Advisors:

• Jeffrey Sowards
  jeffrey.w.sowards
  (256) 544‑2205
• Fredrick Michael
  fredrick.n.michael
  (256) 544‑1153

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp

Qualifications: Experience with computational materials science and fluid dynamics methods is highly desired. While an applicant does not need experience in all methods, relevant approaches may include density functional theory, molecular dynamics, CALPHAD, phase field modeling, cellular automata, lattice Boltzmann, volume of fluid, and finite element. Experience with high‑performance computing platforms, parallelization, and Unix environments is also desired.

Point of Contact: Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements:

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.