NASA Postdoctoral Program - Deformation and Damage Mechanics

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. This specific opportunity focuses on developing advanced constitutive equations, numerical algorithms for analysis and design, and experimental validation of proposed theories and characterization of material response. Materials under investigation include advanced metallics, polymeric matrix composites, metal and intermetallic matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, cellular materials, smart materials, and multifunctional materials. The aim is to develop analysis and design methods which predict useful life in components subjected to extreme thermomechanical loading conditions. The theoretical work is supported by research at the microstructural level to develop a detailed understanding of key deformation and damage mechanisms.