Research Associate in Materials Science and Engineering

Professor John R. Scully in the Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia is seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work on a prestigious DARPA basic research project entitled Extending the Fatigue Life of Al-Mg and Mg-Al alloys through Physics Based Design and Control of Morphogenic Instabilities During Key Stages of Corrosion Damage Evolution. Other active project areas involve coatings for substrate protection of light weight materials and anti-microbial copper alloy design as well as surface engineering for anti-microbial function.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct corrosion metallurgy experiments with a variety of methods drawing on extensive experimental and theoretical expertise in aqueous corrosion science.
  • Master how corrosive environments and metallurgical factors affect the stages of corrosion ranging from micro-galvanic corrosion that transitions into other two dimensional and three-dimensional corrosion morphologies such as pitting, eutectic phase and intergranular corrosion in Mg - based and Al - based structural materials.
  • Elucidate factors that cause morphogenic instabilities that enable these transitions in corrosion mode and provide them to modeling team members.
• Study various mitigation strategies to arrest transitions in corrosion mode and instabilities working in an environment requiring input/output work flow between teams of instability modelers, surface and alloy designers and a fracture and fatigue team the rely on corrosion parameters.
• Perform well in a team atmosphere where written and oral communication is required.
• Extensive collaboration within UVA and with US DOD National Labs, travel, conference attendance.
• Take central responsibility for report writing and conduct project report presentations at project meetings.
• Other sponsor maintenance activities as well as wide networking needed for establishing a research career.
• Write proposals as a thought leader and key performer of grantsmanship activities.
• Emphasize development and production of archival journal publications.

Qualification Requirements:

• Ph.D. in materials science and engineering or a closely related field
• Experience in doctoral and post-doctoral research in materials science and engineering or related field
• Proficiency in electrochemistry, materials science, chemistry and surface science tools and theory of operation
• Experience with Mg and Al alloys highly desired.
• Prior experience with surface characterization tools (AFM, XPS, Raman), materials characterization (XRD, SEM, EBSD), and AC/DC electrochemical methods, scanning probe electrochemical methods such as SVET and micro-electrode arrays
• Excellent oral and written communication in English
• Mastery of time management and ability to manage 2 projects at once
• Experience supervising undergraduate students to help conduct necessary research to meet project goals
• Work well with others in a shared lab equipment environment

Application procedure : Apply online at https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com and attach a one-page cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box.

Application deadline: Review of applications is on going, but the position will remain open until filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

This is a one-year appointment; however, the appointment may be renewed for an additional two, one-year increments, contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance.

For questions regarding this position, please contactJohn Scully, Professor,at jrs8d@virginia.edu .

For questions about the application process, please contact please contact Richard Haverstom, Faculty Search Advisor, at rkh6j@virginia.edu .

For more information on the benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA, visit postdoc.virginia.edu and hr.virginia.edu/benefits .

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visitthe UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpageprior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirementsandguidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.