Open Positions - Updated June 2022
The Gas and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (GPDL) directed by Dr. Han
has multiple funded (tuition coverage and biweekly/monthly stipend) Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) openings
expected to start in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.
Ph.D. students are preferred for these positions,
although outstanding M.S. students will also be considered for applicable projects.
Active research projects are on the following topics:
-
Lunar exploration including modeling and experimentation on lunar surface environments
– vacuum, thermal, electrostatic, plasma, and dust.
-
Mining the Moon.
-
Fundamental dusty plasma phenomena with applications to space/lunar exploration
and general / fundamental plasma physics including nuclear fusion.
-
Space electric propulsion, particularly, electrospray propulsion.
-
Plasma-biochemical materials interactions (anticipated to start Fall 2022).
Other types of financial supports in forms of Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)
and/or Fellowships (campus level or national level)
are also anticipated for outstanding and eligible applicants.
Successful applicants are expected to be/have:
-
Self-motivated
-
GPA 3.6+ or strong confidence of graduate school success
-
Background in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear, Physics or related field
-
Strong programming/computing and/or hands-on experiment skills
Interested applicants may contact Dr. Han along with a copy of current resume/CV,
unofficial transcript, and contact information of 2-3 references.
Other Open Positions and Research Opportunities
If you are interested in challenging research that applies gas and plasma dynamics
to scientific and engineering problems in aeronautics and astronautics, please contact
Dr. Han.
On-going projects with open positions and research opportunities include:
-
Development of PIFE-PIC, a 3-D parallel immersed finite element
particle-in-cell code for plasma simulations
-
Plasma interactions with airless space bodies (Moon, asteroids)
-
Project of the student's own interests - an idea initiated by the student
General Requirements/Expectations
-
Minimum GPA 3.6
-
Background in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear, Physics or related field
-
Strong programming/computing and/or hands-on experiment skills preferred
Undergraduate Students
Applications accepted during early Fall (August) and early Spring (January)
terms.
Please send a resume to
Dr. Han.
Requirements/Expectations
Funding Opportunities
Graduate Students (M.S. and Ph.D.)
Applications accepted at any time.
Please send a resume/CV to
Dr. Han.
Requirements/Expectations
-
Regularly attend and present papers at major national conferences, such as
AIAA SciTech,
IEEE ICOPS,
AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum,
and
ERPS International Electric Propulsion Conference
-
Publish research in major peer-reviewed journals, such as
AIP Physics of Plasmas,
AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets,
AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power,
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science,
Journal of Computational Physics,
and
Computer Physics Communications
Funding Opportunities
Nation-Wide
State-Wide
University-Wide
Department-Wide
Travel Grants