Postdoctoral Scholar - Surgery

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

The Penn State College of Medicine, Division of Applied Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Surgery, in Hershey, PA, is seeking a highly driven post‑doctoral scholar capable of joining an internationally recognized team developing next‑generation mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, including a pediatric ventricular assist device (Child Pump) and continuous‑flow blood pumps. The applicant must have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field.

This position is on campus, in person.

The Division of Applied Biomedical Engineering consists of 5 faculty members with expertise in mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics, electrical engineering, and biomaterials. In addition, there are 9 full‑time staff members specializing in computational methods, in vitro and in vivo testing, mechanical design, machining, assembly, and polymer fabrication. The Division collaborates closely with surgeons, cardiologists, veterinarians, and commercial partners, and focuses on the research and development of devices to treat heart and pulmonary failure.

Duties include (but are not limited to):

• Designing and optimizing rotary blood pump components, including impellers/rotors, volutes, and hydrodynamic bearings
• Conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and fluid‑structure interaction (FSI) simulations to evaluate pump hydraulic performance, blood damage (hemolysis, vWF, platelets), and bearing clearance
• Planning and executing in vitro experimental testing, including hydraulic performance characterization and blood‑based assays
• Supporting in vivo (large‑animal) studies in collaboration with the surgical and veterinary team
• Analyzing and interpreting data, preparing manuscripts for peer‑reviewed publication, and presenting at scientific conferences
• Contributing to the preparation of grant applications and progress reports
• Mentoring graduate and undergraduate students

Specific criteria include:

• Recent PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field, with significant experience in mechanical circulatory support systems or rotary blood pump development
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: turbo machinery design, tribology, hydrodynamic bearings, CFD/FSI modeling, or pump hydraulic testing
• Proficiency with engineering software such as CAD (e.g. Solid Works), CFD solvers (e.g., CONVERGE, ANSYS Fluent, ABAQUS), and FEM/FSI tools
• Strong critical thinking skills, rigorous training in the scientific method, and the ability to synthesize scientific literature to generate novel hypotheses
• Excellent organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and strong written and verbal communication skills

Interested candidates should apply online and provide a detailed CV with 2-3 references.

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees designed to support both personal and professional well‑being.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (

Note:

For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact .