Research Scientist in Scalar Dispersion

Location: Durham

USNH Employees should apply within Workday through the Jobs Hub appThe Research Scientist will support externally funded research activities within the Department of Mechanical Engineering during Summer 2026. The position will provide advanced technical and research expertise in experimental fluid mechanics and environmental flow measurements associated with ongoing sponsored research projects.

The position will support the planning, execution, analysis, and interpretation of experimental investigations involving turbulent boundary layers, scalar transport, and environmental flow physics. Responsibilities include operation and maintenance of experimental facilities and instrumentation, development of experimental methodologies, supervision of research activities, data analysis, technical reporting, and support of graduate and undergraduate researchers. The position requires substantial experience in experimental fluid mechanics and advanced laboratory measurement techniques.

Duties/Responsibilities Experimental Research Activities (50%)Lead and support experimental investigations associated with externally funded research projects.

Design, assemble, and operate experimental setups in laboratory and wind tunnel environments.

Conduct experimental measurements involving turbulent flows, scalar transport, and environmental flow physics.

Assist with troubleshooting, calibration, and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.

Instrumentation and Data Acquisition (25%)Operate and maintain advanced measurement systems including hotwire thermal anemometry, scalar measurement systems, and data acquisition hardware.

Develop and implement data acquisition and signal processing procedures.

Process, analyze, and visualize large experimental datasets.

Support development of experimental methodologies and laboratory protocols.

Research Coordination and Technical Support (25%)Assist with preparation of technical reports, research publications, conference presentations, and sponsor deliverables.

Support training and supervision of graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

Participate in technical meetings and project-planning activities.

Maintain organized experimental records and documentation.

Requirements Minimum Acceptable

Education & Experience:

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Physics, or a related field.

Significant experience in experimental fluid mechanics research.

Experience operating laboratory instrumentation and conducting experimental measurements in fluid mechanics or environmental flow applications.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Strong technical expertise in experimental fluid mechanics and turbulent flow measurements.

Experience operating and working in wind tunnel facilities.

Experience with hotwire thermal anemometry systems and associated signal processing techniques.

Experience with data acquisition systems, instrumentation calibration, and experimental troubleshooting.

Experience with scalar measurement techniques and experimental diagnostics.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research environment.

Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Experience with technical computing and data analysis software such as MATLAB, Python, or LabVIEW.Other Requirements:

Ability to work safely in laboratory and experimental research environments.

Ability to lift and move moderate laboratory equipment and instrumentation components as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with turbulent boundary layer research and environmental flow measurements.

Experience supervising or mentoring graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

Experience preparing technical reports, journal publications, or sponsor deliverables.

Familiarity with laser-based diagnostics or advanced optical measurement techniques.

Prior experience supporting federally funded research projects.

Applicant Instructions:

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My

Experience:

Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents)
Resume/CVCover…