Post-Doctoral Associate- Prof. Suo Yang

University of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 52,247 - 71,567; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages and benefits

Paid holidays and generous leave

Tuition assistance/tuition benefits

Wellbeing and wellness programs

Job summary

The University of Minnesota is seeking a post-doctoral associate in Mechanical Engineering to lead high-level CFD research and develop new computational tools for electrochemical processes. You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team and mentors students, contributing to publications and grant proposals.

The role requires a PhD with strong CFD background, experience in solver development, and proficiency in C++/Fortran/Python.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field with emphasis on CFD.
• Experience in advanced CFD solver development and numerical methods for stiff systems.
• Expertise in multiphase flows, stiff chemistry/transport terms, and parallel computing.
• Strong publication record as first author in peer-reviewed journals.

Responsibilities

• Perform high level theoretical and numerical research and data analysis (55%).
• Prepare publications, proposals, and presentations (20%).
• Mentor PhD and MSME students (10%).
• Organize and manage laboratory activities and safety (10%).
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team and industry partners.

Skills

High-fidelity CFD

Solver development

C/C++ programming

MPI-based parallel computing

Python/MATLAB

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

MPI

Python

MATLAB

Fortran 90

C++/Java

Job description

Job Details

• Job ID: 375210
• Location: Twin Cities
• Job Family: Academic
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Job Code: 9546
• Employee Class: Acad Prof and Admin

About the Job

This is a one-year full-time position. It is possible this position might be extended for a second year depending on satisfactory performance, the availability of funds and/or work for the position, and meeting standard University employment requirements.

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship.

Duties/responsibilities

1. Performing high level theoretical, and numerical research and data analysis (55%)
2. Presentation publication, and proposal preparation (20%)
3. Mentoring PhD and MSME students (10%)
4. Laboratory organization and management (10%)
5. Other duties as assigned (5%)

• In this position you will be expected to perform high level theoretical, and numerical research. Your primary research project will focus on developing CFD codes/modules/tools for the new electrochemical processes in the project, but you will have some latitude to study a variety of scientific topics chosen through mutual agreement and within the constraints of available funding.
• In this context, you might be expected to generate new research ideas and lead development of new research proposals.
• In this position, you will collaborate with a highly interdisciplinary team within the University of Minnesota and partner universities. Such collaborations may also extend to leading the communication with industrial partners through regular progress reports and supporting technology transfer processes where applicable. You will also be expected to participate in preparing, presenting, and discussing data with study investigators.
• You will be expected to author, co-author, and otherwise collaborate on preparing publications for peer review describing research results, assisting with the preparation of progress reports as required by funding agencies, preparation of presentations for conferences, attendance at grant review meetings, and assisting with proposal preparation. You will also be expected to participate in preparing, presenting, and discussing data with study investigators.
• As a post-doctoral associate, you will be encouraged to serve as a leader on your research team by mentoring graduate students, undergraduate students, and/or lab technician research team members. This may include advice on technical questions, data analysis, discussions on the development of research plans, preparation of manuscripts and reports, participating in the application / execution of established techniques to other projects, and helping them to develop and pursue their own independent research as a co-author.
• You might be acting lead on research projects and expected to effectively coordinate research activities within the project team, communicate project needs, and provide regular updates on project progress to the lab group and Principal Investigator.
• You will have joint responsibility for the organization and management of laboratories under the faculty mentor's supervision ensuring all lab members follow all safety protocols, properly recording data from experimental and numerical research and promptly backing up all data.
• While in this position you might also have the opportunity to teach courses offered in our department. These duties would be to prepare and deliver lectures, prepare homework assignments, quizzes and exams, hold office hours, assess student work, supervise the teaching assistants and manage the administration of the course.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computational Science & Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, with strong emphasis on high-fidelity CFD
• Experience in advanced CFD solver development, algorithm improvement, and numerical methods for highly coupled, stiff systems of partial differential equations
• Demonstrated expertise in multiphase flows and stiff chemistry/transport source terms in reacting flows (e.g., combustion, plasma), and strong proficiency in C++/Java/Fortran 90, Python/MATLAB, and MPI-based parallel computing
• Strong publication record as first author in peer-reviewed journals

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with 3D conjugate heat transfer (CHT) or fluidic manifold optimization
• Experience with machine learning/AI (PyTorch or TensorFlow), reduced-order modeling (ROM), or data assimilation (DA)
• Experience with GPU programming (CUDA and/or OpenACC)

About the Department

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has an internationally recognized faculty, and is part of the College of Science and Engineering, the highly interdisciplinary college of engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $62,232.00 per year; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.