Postdoctoral Associate

Rutgers University; Piscataway Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Paid vacation and leave programs

Retirement benefits

Educational benefits

Job summary

Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, seeks a full-time Postdoctoral Associate to join the GANDALF hypervelocity expansion-tube team. The role centers on laser-based measurements such as PLEET and PLIF to study high-speed reacting and non-reacting flows in Mach 8 conditions. You will work closely with Dr.

DeMauro and a team of Ph.D. students and research engineers, helping to plan experiments, analyze data, and contribute to proposal writing within Rutgers hypersonics research initiatives.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in aerospace or mechanical engineering or related field.
• Familiarity with optical diagnostics in reacting and non-reacting flows.
• Experience with planar laser-induced fluorescence, LabVIEW, and Matlab.
• Desirable: FLEET, IR thermography, BOS techniques.

Responsibilities

• Support experiments using laser-based measurements in GANDALF.
• Assist graduate students and contribute to proposal writing.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary hypersonics researchers and engineers.

Skills

High-speed aerodynamics

Planar laser induced fluorescence

Optical diagnostics

Laser diagnostics

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Eng

Tools

LabVIEW

Matlab

FLEET

IR Thermography

Background‑oriented schlieren

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

This is a grant funded appointment, contingent on availability of funds and completion of the Ph.D degree or proper documentation indication Ph.D program is completed. Proof to work in the US must be provided.
Candidates should upload cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae including publication list, and contact information

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title

Recruitment/Posting Title Postdoctoral Associate

Department

Department Mechanical & Aerospace Eng

Salary Details

Salary Details $64,000

Offer Information

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university’s broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, based on position, which includes:

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
• Employee and dependent educational benefits

Dr. Edward DeMauro, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA) is seeking applications from qualified individuals for a full-time postdoctoral associate position working in the newly built hypervelocity expansion tube facility, GANDALF. The position will begin as early as February 2027 and looks to support experiments involving laser-based measurements, such as PLEET and PLIF, utilizing a pulse-burst laser. The postdoc is expected to work closely with the team research engineering and Dr. DeMauro, while also aiding graduate students in their projects, and contributing to proposal writing.

Dr. DeMauro is the director of the GANDALF research facility, a 95-foot hypervelocity expansion tube capable of producing a Mach 8 flow with run times around 500 microseconds. In addition to this facility, Dr. DeMauro also directs research in a blowdown wind tunnel that produces flows at Mach 3. Dr. DeMauro’s team of experimentalists comprises six Ph.D. students, several M.S./M.Eng. students, and a research engineer. The group is part of a larger, multidisciplinary center for hypersonics research at Rutgers, which involves collaboration with faculty with backgrounds in fluid dynamics, combustion, heat transfer, and solid mechanics.

Position Status

Position Status Full Time

Posting Number

Posting Number 26FA0856

Posting Open Date

Posting Open Date 10/12/2026

Posting Close Date

Posting Close Date 01/29/2027

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

A Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field is required. The desired candidate should be familiar with optical diagnostics as applied to reacting and non-reacting flows.

Certifications/Licenses

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Background in high-speed aerodynamics. The desired candidate should have prior experience in working with planar laser induced fluorescence, LabVIEW, and Matlab. Additional desirable skills include prior experience with one or more techniques such as FLEET, IR Thermography, and background-oriented schlieren.

Preferred Qualifications

This position will primarily utilize the GANDALF expansion tube at Rutgers University.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Overview

Statement

Special Instructions to Applicants

This is a grant funded appointment, contingent on availability of funds and completion of the Ph.D degree or proper documentation indication Ph.D program is completed. Proof to work in the US must be provided.
Candidates should upload cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae including publication list, and contact information

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• Curriculum Vitae
• List of Professional References (contact Info)

Optional Documents

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