Postdoctoral Fellow in Mechanical Engineering

Colorado School of Mines

Position Details

Institution: Colorado School of Mines (in partnership with NIST PREP)
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Position Title: Postdoctoral Fellow / PREP Research Associate
Location: Golden, Colorado
Employment Type: Full-time, Postdoctoral / Research Associate
Salary: $60,000 – $70,000 annually
Start Date: Flexible / Open until filled
Application: Online via Mines portal (upload CV and 3 references)

Program Overview

This role is part of the NIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP), a partnership between Mines and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Goal: Conduct cutting-edge research on fatigue and failure in additively manufactured metals, focusing on surface measurement science and quality assurance to improve fatigue life prediction.

Dual Mentorship: Collaborate with both Mines faculty and NIST scientists.

Key Responsibilities

  • Surface roughness measurement and analysis for additively manufactured (AM) metals

  • Fatigue testing and fractography for AM metals

  • Fatigue modeling and computational analysis for AM metals

  • Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at meetings

  • Document protocols, software, and experimental data for organizational sharing

Required Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Computer Science, or a related field

  • Proficiency with:

    • X-ray micro computed tomography (µCT)

    • Laser confocal scanning microscopy

    • Focus variation microscopy

    • Fatigue testing and fractography

    • Fatigue modeling

  • Strong oral and written communication skills

Supervisors: Dr. Joy Gockel (Mines) and Dr. Nik Hrabe (NIST)

Benefits

  • Flexible health and dental care options

  • 13 paid holidays per year, including week-long winter break

  • Fully vested retirement plan on first day, with generous employer contribution

  • Tuition benefits: 6 credits/year for employees, 50% discount for dependents

  • Free RTD Ecopass

  • Access to campus Recreation Center, Outdoor Rec equipment rentals, athletics, and on-campus daycare

Location Highlights

  • Mines is located in Golden, CO, near Denver and the Rocky Mountains

  • Offers outdoor recreation, historic downtown, and high-altitude climate

  • R1 “Very High Activity” research institution with ~7,000 students

How to Apply

Required Materials:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (including publication list)

  2. List of three professional references

Contacts for Reasonable Accommodations / Questions:

Focus: This position is ideal for candidates with expertise in mechanical testing, additive manufacturing, and surface characterization, looking for a hands-on research postdoc with strong opportunities for collaboration with NIST.

Apply