Job Title

Postdoctoral Researcher

Agency

Texas A&M Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Why work for Texas A&M Engineering?

Engineering has been part of Texas A&M University since its opening in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Today, the College of Engineering is the largest college on the College Station campus with more than 25,000 engineering students enrolled in 15 departments. Its mission is to serve Texas, the nation and the global community by providing engineering graduates who are well-founded in engineering fundamentals, instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior, and prepared to meet the complex technical challenges of society.

As the research arm of Engineering, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is a state agency within the Texas A&M University System with a mission to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research, workforce development and technology transition. Our collaborations with industry, academia and government provide cutting-edge solutions to global technical challenges.

We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Service, by offering competitive salaries, an array of benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.

Job Description

The applicant will be a Postdoctoral Associate/Researcher in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University working in support of a new DoD funded advanced semiconductor prototyping facility. The researcher will work under the direct supervision of Dr. Dion Antao and work closely with a cluster of faculty (Drs. Cynthia Hipwell, Jonathan Felts, Shoufeng Lan, Matt Pharr and Patrick Samberger) focused on studying thermo-mechanical characteristics of next generation three-dimensional heterogeneously integrated (3DHI) semiconductor based microsystems in a multi-year effort. A researcher in this position will be responsible for designing, assembling and commissioning a modular testbed facility to characterize both transient and steady-state thermal performance characteristics of advanced thermal management technologies for next generation 3DHI microelectronics including (but not limited to) thermal interface materials (TIMs), novel electronics packaging materials and encapsulation compounds, and two-phase cooling solutions capable of efficient 3D thermal transport. Beyond the development of this test facility, a successful candidate will be responsible for interfacing with customers (i.e., industry partners and users of the semiconductor prototyping fab facility) to understand their measurement needs, conducting thermal transport measurements for prototyping facility partners/customers as well as research activites, including designing thermal test vehicles for customer-focused measurements, analyzing research data, and troubleshooting lab equipment. A successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic group of researchers (across Mechanical Engineering and Material Science) working on thermal/mechanical characterization of 3DHI microelectronics systems and developing novel thermal management solutions for these 3DHI microsystems, and they will also interact with semiconductor/electronics industrial partners working at the leading edge of 3DHI microelectronics fabrication and packaging. If this description sounds interesting to you, we invite you to apply to be considered for this opportunity.

Responsibilities:

• Design, assemble and commission modular testbed facility to characterize transient and steady-state thermal performance characteristics for 3DHI microelectronics components.
• Document modular testbed facility design, functions and usage, and develop and deliver training for new graduate/undergraduate students and/or other researchers.
• Interface with microelectronics industry and academic partners (i.e., customers) to ensure thermal measurements meet their needs.
• Develop test plans to measure the thermal performance of customer semiconductor packages and customer (or in-house developed) advanced 3DHI microelectronics thermal management solutions using modular testbed.
• Develop designs of thermal test vehicles and design/set-up test fixtures for thermal transport characterization, drive experiment design and execution, perform data analysis and draw conclusions.
• Perform transient thermal measurements for 3DHI semiconductor prototyping fab facility customers.
• Develop and test two-phase thermal management strategies to mitigate identified thermal bottlenecks in 3DHI microelectronics.
• Mentor thermal graduate students.
• Write project reports for customers detailing thermal measurements performed, with support of supervisor and other collaborators.
• Ensure adherence to all safety standards and housekeeping standards within lab and other facility spaces.
• Other duties as assigned.

What we need:

• Doctoral degree

What is helpful:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science or related field with a focus on thermal-fluid science research.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with experimental thermal-fluid transport research or thermal solutions for electronic devices.
• Demonstrated track-record in experimental (or hands-on) thermal-fluid transport research.
• Demonstrated experience developing thermal solutions for electronic devices.
• Experience with LabVIEW programming and equipment integration.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Good interpersonal skills, including working with collaborators from different disciplines.
• Integrative thinking, driven and self-motivated, results oriented, self-awareness, ability to mentor others, and willingness to make changes as required.
• Deep technical and functional understanding of conduction, convection (natural/passive and forced/active) and radiation under transient/unsteady conditions.
• Technical and functional understanding of multi-phase (e.g., liquid-vapor and/or solidliquid) thermal-fluid transport phenomena.
• Knowledge of MATLAB or equivalent toolkit for modelling and data analysis.
• Knowledge of ANSYS suite and/or COMSOL or equivalent toolkit for modeling of thermo-fluidic characteristics and response.
• Familiarity with statistical data analysis.
• Good communication skills. Can produce clear data, presentation material, and deliver clear presentations.

Competencies:

• Ability to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, which may include communications systems, computer networks and systems, cybersecurity systems, electrical grid, hazardous waste treatment system or water treatment system.

About Texas A&M Mechanical Engineering

The J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University is a national and international leader in mechanical engineering education. Our scholarship, research, and service to our communities are supported by recruiting and nurturing top students, faculty, and staff passionate about learning, advancing human knowledge, and making high-impact contributions to society.

Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive medical insurance benefits through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Prescription coverage by Express Scripts.
• Options for Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance.
• A defined benefit retirement plan with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) with 8.25% employer contribution.
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Deferred Account 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation Program 457(b).
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Generous paid time off with holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional development opportunities.
• Tuition assistance and Educational release time to further your academic pursuits.
• Access to Engineer Your Wellness programs that provide opportunities for employees to engage in health and fitness.
• Wellness release time offered to employees to promote work/life balance.

Helpful Applicant Information

Required Materials for Application:

• Resume/CV
• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor/former supervisor.
• Letter of interest (dependent upon position)

Applications received by Texas A&M Engineering must have all required job application data entered.

Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.

Compensation Philosophy:

• Recruit and retain high-performing workforce through competitive compensation and career development including career pathing, coaching and skills development.
• Offer total rewards, flexible benefits, professional development, performance recognition and work-life balance.
• Ensure resources are readily available and utilized to attract and retain the highest quality researchers, faculty, and staff.

Employment Eligibility Verification

• If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present original and unexpired documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in delay of start date.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.