Postdoctoral Fellowship in Thermal Transport or Phase Change Materials Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Computational Thermal Transport or Phase Change Materials

School of Physics, Shandong University

Field: Thermal Physics / Computational Materials Science / Machine Learning / Materials Science

Project Summary:

Title: Multiscale Computational Design of Thermal Transport or Phase Change Materials

This postdoctoral project focuses on developing a comprehensive computational framework to investigate thermal transport mechanisms and phase transformation dynamics in advanced phase change materials (PCMs). By integrating first-principles calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and machine learning methodologies, this research aims to establish predictive models for optimizing thermal conductivity, latent heat, and phase transition temperatures of novel PCMs.

Main Activities:

Perform Density Functional Theory (DFT) or Molecular Dynamics (MD) calculations to investigate electronic structures, phonon dispersions, and thermal transport properties of crystalline and amorphous phase change materials

Develop and apply Machine Learning models to accelerate materials screening, predict thermal properties

Investigate structure-property relationships governing thermal conductivity switching mechanisms and phase transition dynamics in PCMs

Collaborate with experimental groups to validate computational predictions and guide materials synthesis

Publish high-impact research in leading journals

Requirements:

PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related fields

Demonstrated expertise in computational methods:

Solid experience in DFT calculations (VASP, Quantum ESPRESSO, or similar codes) for phonon and thermal property calculations

Proficiency in Molecular Dynamics simulations (LAMMPS, GROMACS, or ab initio MD using CP2K/VASP)

Practical experience in Machine Learning applications in materials science (Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, scikit-learn, ASE, OVITO)

Strong background in thermal physics, solid-state physics, and thermodynamics of phase transitions

Programming skills in Python, Fortran, or C/C++ for workflow automation and data analysis

Proficiency in English (scientific writing and oral communication)

Duration and Location:

The position is available for 2 years (renewable based on performance), with activities primarily conducted at Shandong University, Jinan, China. The fellow will benefit from access to high-performance computing clusters, international collaborations with leading groups in thermal materials research.

Supervisor:

Prof. Dr. Hongchao Wang

Email address for application:

[Please click the Apply button for the link or address] (Research Assistant)

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following documents to [Please click the Apply button for the link or address]:

1. Curriculum vitae (CV) with complete publication list
2. Representative publications (PDF of at least 3 relevant papers)

Salary and Benefits:

Competitive postdoctoral fellowship commensurate with qualifications and local standards

Access to state-of-the-art computational facilities

Opportunities for career development and mentorship in grant writing and academic networking

Tagged as: Chemistry, Physics