Postdoctoral Associate - Structural 3D Printing

New York University; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 819,684 - 1,311,494; Full time

Job summary

New York University Abu Dhabi is looking for a Postdoctoral Associate to engage in advanced research focused on Structural 3D Printing. This position offers the chance to work under Dr. Mohamed Moustafa on cutting-edge projects involving resilient infrastructure and innovative materials.

The ideal candidate will have a strong PhD background and will be involved in leading research and mentoring undergraduate students. A significant opportunity for innovation and publication exists in this role.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field required.
• Experience with structural materials or systems preferred.
• Strong research background in structural engineering is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects in structural materials and 3D printing.
• Conduct experimental and analytical studies on printed components.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and mentor students.

Skills

Structural engineering

3D concrete printing

Metal 3D printing

Additive manufacturing

Ultra-high-performance concrete

Finite element modeling

Computational mechanics

Experimental testing

Python programming

C programming

Education

PhD in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Material Engineering

Tools

3D concrete printers

Metal printers

Job description

Job Snapshot

Postdoctoral Associate – Structural 3D Printing

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Higher Education

Function: Research

Experience: PhD in Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Material Engineering, or related field

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: 20000-32000 (estimate)

Position Details

This role is an advanced Higher Education research opportunity focused on resilient infrastructure, structural materials, additive construction, 3D concrete printing, metal printing, ultra-high-performance concrete, structural steel, and computational modeling. The Postdoctoral Associate will work under the supervision of Dr. Mohamed Moustafa on research projects that rethink the design, fabrication, and modeling of future structural systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research projects focused on structural materials development, 3D printing, and resilient infrastructure systems.
• Work on emerging materials including structural steel, ultra-high-performance concrete, and additive construction materials.
• Use industry-scale 3D concrete printers and metal printers to fabricate structural components for research and testing.
• Conduct experimental, analytical, and computational studies on 3D printed structural components.
• Develop finite element models and simulations for UHPC, steel structures, and additive-manufactured structural systems.
• Perform laboratory testing at material, component, and structural levels to evaluate performance and durability.
• Analyze structural behavior, mechanical response, material performance, and design implications of printed systems.
• Apply computational mechanics methods to model complex structural materials and infrastructure elements.
• Use programming and coding tools such as Python, C, or related platforms to support modeling workflows.
• Contribute to GUI development, simulation tools, or research software where applicable.
• Collaborate with PhD-level scientists, undergraduate students, faculty members, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Mentor undergraduate students involved in structural engineering, materials, modeling, or experimental research.
• Prepare peer-reviewed journal papers, conference papers, technical reports, and research presentations.
• Participate in writing research grant proposals under faculty supervision.
• Maintain accurate documentation of experiments, models, results, datasets, code, and laboratory procedures.

Ideal Profile

• PhD in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Related fields such as Nuclear Engineering or Material Sciences may also be considered.
• Strong research profile in structural engineering, steel structures, concrete structures, or infrastructure systems.
• Extensive experience in finite element modeling, computational mechanics, or structural simulation.
• Solid understanding of steel and concrete structural design.
• Formal training in additive manufacturing, 3D printing, machine learning, or artificial intelligence is an advantage.
• Experience with laboratory testing across material, component, and structural scales is preferred.
• Programming experience using Python, C, or related languages is highly valuable.
• Ability to develop computational tools, models, or GUI-based research applications is beneficial.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to conduct innovative and independent research while collaborating within a multidisciplinary team.
• Interest in resilient infrastructure, structural materials, UHPC, 3D printed construction, and future-ready engineering systems.
• UAE nationals are encouraged to apply.
• Ability to submit required documents, including CV, statement of interest, academic transcripts, and two recommendation letters.

Skills Set

• Structural engineering
• Structural materials
• 3D concrete printing
• Metal 3D printing
• Additive manufacturing
• Additive construction
• Ultra-high-performance concrete
• Structural steel
• Resilient infrastructure
• Finite element modeling
• Computational mechanics
• Structural simulation
• Experimental testing
• Laboratory testing
• Multi-scale testing
• Concrete structures
• Steel structures
• Python programming
• C programming
• GUI development
• Machine learning
• Artificial intelligence
• Materials engineering
• Research grant writing
• Peer-reviewed publication writing
• Conference presentation
• Undergraduate mentoring
• Research documentation

Why Join Us

This position offers a strong opportunity for a Postdoctoral Associate in Structural 3D Printing to contribute to next-generation infrastructure research in Abu Dhabi. The role provides access to advanced 3D concrete and metal printing facilities, exposure to computational and experimental research, mentorship within a specialized engineering hub, and the chance to publish innovative work in structural materials and resilient infrastructure.

About the Company

New York University Abu Dhabi is a globally connected research university in the UAE, supporting advanced scholarship across engineering, science, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Through the Division of Engineering and the Future Generation of Resilient and Infrastructure Design Technology Hub, NYU Abu Dhabi provides a strong academic platform for research in structural engineering, additive manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, computational modeling, and emerging construction technologies from Abu Dhabi.