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The Research Scientist will support externally funded research activities within the Department of Mechanical Engineering during Summer 2026. The position will provide advanced technical and research expertise in experimental fluid mechanics and environmental flow measurements associated with ongoing sponsored research projects.

The position will support the planning, execution, analysis, and interpretation of experimental investigations involving turbulent boundary layers, scalar transport, and environmental flow physics. Responsibilities include operation and maintenance of experimental facilities and instrumentation, development of experimental methodologies, supervision of research activities, data analysis, technical reporting, and support of graduate and undergraduate researchers. The position requires substantial experience in experimental fluid mechanics and advanced laboratory measurement techniques.

Duties/Responsibilities

Experimental Research Activities (50%)

• Lead and support experimental investigations associated with externally funded research projects.

• Design, assemble, and operate experimental setups in laboratory and wind tunnel environments.

• Conduct experimental measurements involving turbulent flows, scalar transport, and environmental flow physics.

• Assist with troubleshooting, calibration, and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.

Instrumentation and Data Acquisition (25%)

• Operate and maintain advanced measurement systems including hotwire thermal anemometry, scalar measurement systems, and data acquisition hardware.

• Develop and implement data acquisition and signal processing procedures.

• Process, analyze, and visualize large experimental datasets.

• Support development of experimental methodologies and laboratory protocols.

Research Coordination and Technical Support (25%)

• Assist with preparation of technical reports, research publications, conference presentations, and sponsor deliverables.

• Support training and supervision of graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

• Participate in technical meetings and project-planning activities.

• Maintain organized experimental records and documentation.

Requirements

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Physics, or a related field.

• Significant experience in experimental fluid mechanics research.

• Experience operating laboratory instrumentation and conducting experimental measurements in fluid mechanics or environmental flow applications.

 Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong technical expertise in experimental fluid mechanics and turbulent flow measurements.

• Experience operating and working in wind tunnel facilities.

• Experience with hotwire thermal anemometry systems and associated signal processing techniques.

• Experience with data acquisition systems, instrumentation calibration, and experimental troubleshooting.

• Experience with scalar measurement techniques and experimental diagnostics.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research environment.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience with technical computing and data analysis software such as MATLAB, Python, or LabVIEW.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to work safely in laboratory and experimental research environments.

• Ability to lift and move moderate laboratory equipment and instrumentation components as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with turbulent boundary layer research and environmental flow measurements.

• Experience supervising or mentoring graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

• Experience preparing technical reports, journal publications, or sponsor deliverables.

• Familiarity with laser-based diagnostics or advanced optical measurement techniques.

• Prior experience supporting federally funded research projects.

Applicant Instructions: 

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents)

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter

Compensation Pay Range:

$24 - $30 per hour

Please be advised that this position is supported by external sponsor funding. As such, continued employment in this role is contingent upon the availability of those external funds. If, for any reason, the sponsor funding is reduced or discontinued, employment may be subject to modification or termination in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

Location:

Durham

Salary Grade:

Adjunct Hourly Staff 00