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Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow – AI for Process Control and Optimization of Glass-Melt Full-time
Postdoctoral Fellow – AI for Process Control and Optimization of Glass-Melting Furnaces
School of Engineering, Bowling Green State University (BGSU)
Sponsored by the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium (NOIC)
Full-time, 12-month appointment | Renewable annually for up to three years
Position Summary
The Autonomous and Intelligent Systems Lab (AISL) at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) invites applications for a motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to support a multi-year, NOIC-funded research initiative focused on applying artificial intelligence and advanced control theory to optimize glass-melting furnace operations. The project aims to deliver a next-generation AI control platform that enhances energy efficiency and reduces emissions. Under the supervision of Dr. Mohammed Abouheaf, the fellow will collaborate closely with graduate researchers, process engineers, and NOIC partners. The appointment will begin in September 2025 or shortly thereafter and is renewable annually.
About NOIC & the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub
The Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium (NOIC) is a non-profit organization that advances regional innovation, sustainable manufacturing, and workforce development through strategic collaborations among businesses, universities, and public institutions. Launched in 2024, the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub is a $31.3 million initiative that accelerates advanced glass and solar technologies by uniting industry leaders with academic partners. The hub pilots AI-driven furnace controls, alternative-fuel melters, and glass-recycling methods, and is projected to create more than 1,600 jobs and generate a $284 million economic impact over five years.
About Bowling Green State University
As a Public University for the Public Good, Bowling Green State University is a comprehensive, high research university located in northwestern Ohio committed to driving economic and cultural vitality in the region and beyond. Through innovative teaching, research and creative activities, BGSU fosters a collaborative and inclusive learning community where inspired ideas, knowledge and achievements support the region, state and nation. More than 760 talented and passionate faculty members teach across more than 200 undergraduate majors and programs, 17 doctoral programs, and 57 master’s programs. A focus on promoting research, scholarship, and creative activities has resulted in a significant increase in extramural funding over the past several years.
Guided by Forward, BGSU’s strategic plan, the University is focused on redefining student success. For the fourth year in a row, The Wall Street Journal ranks BGSU as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest that students would choose again. BGSU also holds the Wall Street Journal distinction of being the No. 1 public university in Ohio for the student experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Integrate physics-informed and data-driven approaches for glass-melting process control and optimization.
- Develop and calibrate reduced-order models (ROMs) that capture combustion, thermal, and multiphase dynamics.
- Design and implement iterative-learning and reinforcement-learning observers, including Kalman and neural filters for virtual sensing.
- Develop model-predictive controllers, adaptive critics, and hierarchical reinforcement-learning algorithms.
- Build Pareto-based multi-objective optimization workflows that balance energy, emissions, and operational constraints.
- Collaborate with industry partners to integrate developed algorithms into pilot-scale plant trials.
- Present research at NOIC-sponsored events, co-supervise graduate students, and contribute to publications in high-impact journals and conferences.
Minimum Qualifications
- D. (by start date) in Chemical, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field with a focus on systems and control.
- Demonstrated expertise in control systems and machine learning.
- Strong record of peer-reviewed publications.
- Proficiency in Python/C++ and MATLAB.
- Familiarity with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior industry or applied-research experience.
- Background in glass production, industrial furnaces, or other high-temperature process systems.
- Familiarity with combustion processes, fluid dynamics, and computational fluid dynamics tools.
- Knowledge of real-time data-acquisition systems or cloud/edge-computing frameworks.
Appointment & Compensation
- 12-month, full-time; renewable annually for up to three years.
- Competitive salary.
- Full BGSU benefits package, including health insurance and retirement contributions.
- Access to BGSU’s high-performance computing infrastructure.
Application Instructions
Submit the following materials as a single PDF to Dr. Mohammed Abouheaf ([Please click the Apply button for the link or address]). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
- Cover letter detailing your interest in the position and how your background aligns with the required qualifications.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Research statement outlining your previous research accomplishments and future research goals.
- Copies of relevant academic transcripts from institutions attended.
- Two representative publications.
- Contact information for three professional references.