Postdoctoral Fellow in Mechanical Engineering

Colorado School of Mines

Position Details

Institution: Colorado School of Mines (in partnership with NIST PREP)
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Position Title: Postdoctoral Fellow / PREP Research Associate
Location: Golden, Colorado
Employment Type: Full-time, Postdoctoral / Research Associate
Salary: $60,000 – $70,000 annually
Start Date: Flexible / Open until filled
Application: Online via Mines portal (upload CV and 3 references)

Program Overview

This role is part of the NIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP), a partnership between Mines and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Goal: Conduct cutting-edge research on fatigue and failure in additively manufactured metals, focusing on surface measurement science and quality assurance to improve fatigue life prediction.

Dual Mentorship: Collaborate with both Mines faculty and NIST scientists.

Key Responsibilities

• Surface roughness measurement and analysis for additively manufactured (AM) metals
• Fatigue testing and fractography for AM metals
• Fatigue modeling and computational analysis for AM metals
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at meetings
• Document protocols, software, and experimental data for organizational sharing

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Computer Science, or a related field
• Proficiency with:
  • X-ray micro computed tomography (µCT)
  • Laser confocal scanning microscopy
  • Focus variation microscopy
  • Fatigue testing and fractography
  • Fatigue modeling
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Supervisors: Dr. Joy Gockel (Mines) and Dr. Nik Hrabe (NIST)

Benefits

• Flexible health and dental care options
• 13 paid holidays per year, including week-long winter break
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits: 6 credits/year for employees, 50% discount for dependents
• Free RTD Ecopass
• Access to campus Recreation Center, Outdoor Rec equipment rentals, athletics, and on-campus daycare

Location Highlights

• Mines is located in Golden, CO, near Denver and the Rocky Mountains
• Offers outdoor recreation, historic downtown, and high-altitude climate
• R1 “Very High Activity” research institution with ~7,000 students

How to Apply

Required Materials:

1. Curriculum Vitae (including publication list)
2. List of three professional references

Contacts for Reasonable Accommodations / Questions:

• HR: hr@mines.edu | 303-273-3250
• Kathleen Feighny (HR): kfeighny@mines.edu

Focus: This position is ideal for candidates with expertise in mechanical testing, additive manufacturing, and surface characterization, looking for a hands-on research postdoc with strong opportunities for collaboration with NIST.

Apply