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:
- Curriculum Vitae (including publication list)
- 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
