Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Thermal Analysis for Energy and Environment at George Washington University George Washington University in United States

The George Washington University, in collaboration with the NIST Professional Research Experience (PREP) program, is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow / Research Associate to join the Energy and Environment Division. This technical role focuses on developing a Standard Reference Material for the thermal insulation industry, specifically targeting the challenges associated with commercial Phase Change Materials (PCMs) used in energy-efficient buildings. The project addresses the limitations of current measurement techniques, which often fail to account for the non-linear thermal behavior caused by encapsulation, leading to inaccurate energy-saving calculations.

The successful candidate will employ computational methods to analyze PCM melting and solidification, laying the foundation for a new measurement service that validates specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity values. Key research areas include simulation of thermal distributions on both empty and PCM-filled encapsulation panels, analysis of thermal conductivity and heat capacity using advanced computational methods, and the use of Finite Element Analysis software, with a preference for COMSOL.

Applicants should hold a Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field, and possess experience with thermal simulations and finite element software. The ability to develop analytical models for data analysis is essential. U.S. citizenship is preferred. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of building energy standards and work within a collaborative research environment at a leading U.S. institution.

Interested candidates should apply via the provided application link and ensure their qualifications align with the requirements. The position is based in Washington, D.C., United States, under the supervision of Professor David Broniatowski.