Postdoctoral Scholar-Chemo-Mechanical Modeling of Porous Materials

The Pennsylvania State University • University Park, FL

1d

About The Position

The College of EMS is hiring a postdoctoral scholar to develop computational methods for modeling the coupling of chemical reactions, mechanical deformation, and failure in porous materials. Volume-changing reactions can fracture the solids that host them, and the resulting damage affects applications including geologic CO2 storage and mineralization, cement and concrete degradation, in-situ hydrogen generation, nuclear waste isolation, geothermal energy extraction, and electrochemical energy storage. The scholar will develop pore-scale models and connect their results to engineering-scale behavior.

This is a computational position. The postdoctoral scholar will lead model formulation, algorithm development, and software implementation, working closely with the PI and graduate students conducting companion laboratory experiments. Opportunities include mentoring students, co-leading a conference workshop, and releasing open-source software and benchmark data to the research community.

The position is funded for one year from the date of hire, with renewal for a second year anticipated upon satisfactory performance. The expected start date is Spring or Summer 2027 and is negotiable. The term length will be discussed during the interview process; continuation beyond the discussed term depends on university need, performance, and/or funding availability. The position requires successful completion of university background checks.

Requirements

• A PhD in engineering, applied mathematics, geosciences, physics, computer science, or a closely related field, required by the date of hire.
• Demonstrated experience implementing numerical methods for partial differential equations in research code written by the candidate; experience solely using commercial finite-element, fluid-dynamics, or multiphysics packages does not meet this requirement.
• Successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in computational solid and fracture mechanics, particularly phase-field or other diffuse-interface formulations.
• Experience in reactive transport and flow in porous media.
• Experience in poromechanics and continuum thermodynamics.
• Experience with discretization schemes for coupled multiphysics systems, such as FVM, FEM, or XFEM.
• Scientific programming experience with MATLAB, C++, or Python.
• Experience with high-performance computing.
• Experience bridging modeling and experiments is valued but not required.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational methods to model the coupling of chemical reactions, mechanical deformation, and failure in porous materials.
• Formulate models that resolve processes at the pore scale and connect them to engineering-scale behavior.
• Lead model formulation, algorithm development, and software implementation.
• Work with the PI and graduate students conducting companion laboratory experiments.
• Mentor students, with opportunities to co-lead a conference workshop and release open-source software and benchmark data.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package for full-time employees, designed to support personal and professional well-being; postdoctoral benefits are described on Penn State’s Postdoctoral Benefits page.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree