Functional Geometry Research Post-Master's Fellowship

Job Overview

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is offering a post‑Master's opportunity at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) participant.

As an ORISE participant you will join a community of scientists and researchers to explore global curved and contoured exterior geometries that attenuate blast waves and mitigate direct impact through controlled wave interaction and load redistribution. This research includes:

• Developing printed infill patterns and internal architectures that enhance internal energy dissipation through impedance variation and material heterogeneity, and integrating composite strategies to improve ductility and resilience, including embedded membranes, meshes, and rebar reinforcement.
• Studying printable materials, incorporating additives such as fibers, rubber, and cork to enhance mechanical and dynamic properties for blast resistance.
• Researching 3D concrete printing (3
  
  DCP), including functional geometries and reinforcement strategies to improve structural performance under extreme loading.
• Identifying barriers to entry in and adoption of 3
  
  DCP and developing strategies to address them.
• Gaining hands‑on experience with structural design, computational modeling, additive construction, analytical and numerical modeling, large‑scale prototype fabrication, laboratory testing, and data analysis.
• Exploring the translation of military‑driven innovations to civilian infrastructure and industry adoption through constructability, cost, and life‑cycle assessment.
• Investigating artificial intelligence (machine learning and deep reinforcement learning)‑enabled design and fabrication process control and optimization.
• Validating prototype fabrication and testing at GRIT Lab at the University of Georgia and at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center at Tyndall Air Force Base.
• Engaging with researchers at the University of Georgia, Tyndall Air Force Base, and industry partners, while developing skills in interdisciplinary research and engineering communication.
• Developing technical skills in structural engineering, additive construction, experimental methods, computational modeling, and resilient infrastructure design.

Panama City, Florida

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

Appointments are initially for one year with the option to extend the appointment for up to four additional years, contingent upon project needs and funding availability.

• Stipend to be determined by AFCEC, typically based on academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location.
• Health Insurance Supplement (participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE).
• Relocation Allowance.
• Training and Travel Allowance.

• Master's degree in any of the disciplines listed in the eligibility section, earned within five years of appointment start date.
• U.S. citizenship only.
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.50.
• Discipline(s):
  Chemistry and Materials Sciences;
  Materials Sciences;
  Polymer Chemistry;
  Communications and Graphics Design;
  Computer, Information, and Data Sciences;
  Engineering;
  Mathematics and Statistics;
  Physics;
  Science & Engineering‑related.

• Knowledge of the material properties of polymeric and cementitious materials.
• Experience with 3D modeling and printing programs (Solidworks, Slic3r).
• Experience operating both field‑scale and laboratory‑scale 3‑D printing systems.
• Experience with mechanical testing of materials, including compression, tensile, tensile splitting, and flexural testing.
• Experience with coding software (MATLAB and Mathematica).
• Experience in preparation and placement techniques for cementitious materials in large‑scale operations.