Postdoctoral Researcher - Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering
About The Position
The Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering (MMAE) at West Virginia University (WVU) is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher specializing in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), Orbital Dynamics, and Space Situational Awareness (SSA). This role involves conducting fundamental and applied research, developing and refining algorithms for tracking and characterizing space objects, analyzing sensor data, publishing research findings, presenting at conferences, mentoring students, and assisting with proposal development and research activities.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
- Strong research capability in orbital mechanics, state estimation, sensor fusion, tracking algorithms, nonlinear dynamics, and/or machine learning for SSA.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with simulation tools (e.g., STK, GMAT, Basilisk).
- Experience with space object modeling.
- Experience with programming (Python, MATLAB, C++).
Responsibilities
- Conduct fundamental and applied research in GNC and SSA.
- Develop, test, and refine algorithms for tracking, detection, and characterization of resident space objects.
- Analyze large datasets from simulated or real ground- and space‑based sensors.
- Prepare peer-reviewed publications and present results at conferences.
- Mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
- Assist in proposal development and externally sponsored research activities.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
