"Postdoctoral Research Associate"

The Material Assessment and Qualification (MatAQ) research group in the David L. Hirschfeld Department of Engineering at Angelo State University (ASU) is led by Dr. Mohammad Shafinul Haque, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate. This is a full-time position supported by a Department of Energy (DOE)-funded collaboration project between ASU and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab).

The research project will develop a reliable framework to accelerate the development of novel high-power particle-production target material for advanced particle accelerator applications. A reverse modeling strategy will be used to design an optimum test matrix. This framework will enable modeling and predicting ion-irradiated mechanical properties using reduced test data, thereby accelerating the development of novel High-Entropy Alloys (HEA) materials. Our research project will include nanoindentation testing of ion-irradiated HEAs and material characterization, generating new data for design consideration. Irradiated mechanical property prediction models and property correlation metamodels will be developed considering traditional and machine learning approaches. Extrapolation will be performed using a data superposition approach to predict HEA material responses at high beam power conditions, and the results will be validated against new test data. The combined optimum testing matrix and robust modeling techniques will be used to downselect suitable HEA compositions that are resistant to beam-induced radiation and thermal shock damage. The selection of a suitable HEA for particle production targets will ensure reliable operation and improved lifetime for advanced multi-MW accelerator target facilities, such as the 2.4 megawatt Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and proposed 10 tera-electron-volt muon collider.

65% – Conduct research related to the DOE-funded project, including experimental design, data collection, analysis, and documentation.

20% – Communicate research findings to the broader community through writing and submitting papers to peer-reviewed journals, giving presentations at universities and national laboratories, and presenting at professional conferences.

15% – Participate in regular meetings with the PI, including lab and one-on-one meetings. Supervise two undergraduate students involved in the research project and perform other related duties as assigned.

This position is funded by a grant. Continued employment beyond the period of grant funding cannot be guaranteed.