B. M. Hegelich
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Computational Plasma Physics and Simulation The University of Texas at Austin in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Salary of $70,000 plus depending on qualifications.
Deadline
Feb 7, 2027
Country
United States
University
The University of Texas at Austin
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About this position
Center for High Energy Density Science (CHEDS), Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin
This postdoctoral fellowship is part of a research program in computational plasma physics at CHEDS, where the successful researcher will work closely with experimentalists and theorists on laser-driven plasma science. The position sits within a highly collaborative environment focused on designing and interpreting experiments across multiple high-energy-density platforms.
The project spans several interconnected areas of plasma and high-energy-density physics, including laser-ion acceleration, inertial confinement fusion, implosion and compression physics, Z-pinch and MagLIF concepts, and particle and nuclear physics in laser-driven plasmas. The fellow will contribute to simulation-driven research that supports experiments on the Texas Petawatt, UT3, and the planned TeX-Ray facility, as well as at major user facilities such as ELI, NIF, and the Sandia Z-facility.
Research activities include massively parallel particle-in-cell simulations of laser-plasma interactions, with special emphasis on laser interactions with antiprotons and antimatter, laser-ion acceleration, and energy deposition in plasma. The role also includes hydrodynamic and radiation-hydrodynamic modelling for compression and fast-ignition-related studies, Monte Carlo particle and nuclear transport simulations for secondary sources and diagnostics, and the development of AI/ML tools such as surrogate models, Bayesian optimization, and digital twins for simulation, analysis, and experimental design.
The fellow will publish research results, present at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students. The appointment is initially for one year and is renewable up to five years.
Funding details
Salary of $70,000 plus depending on qualifications.
What's required
Ph.D. in Physics, Plasma Physics, Computational Science or a related field, completed within the last 3 years or by the start date. Experience with at least one large-scale PIC code (e.g., VPIC, WarpX, OSIRIS, EPOCH, PSC) on HPC systems. Proficiency in Python and at least one of C++, Fortran or Julia. Record of peer-reviewed publications in plasma physics or a related area. Preferred: experience with radiation-hydrodynamics codes, Monte Carlo transport (Geant4, FLUKA, MCNP/MCNPX), background in laser-ion acceleration, ICF, Z-pinch/MagLIF, nuclear physics or high-energy particle phenomenology, machine learning (PyTorch, JAX), surrogate modelling or optimization, and experience comparing simulations to experimental data and working with experimentalists.
How to apply
Submit a CV including publications, a statement of research interests, and three letters of reference through the application link. At least two referees must be outside The University of Texas at Austin.
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Professors
Prof. at The University of Texas at Austin
United States
Research Interests
Fluid Mechanics
Nuclear Physics
Physics
Non-linear Optics
Computer Science
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.