Research Associate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

About the Role

The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Propulsion Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia is seeking a qualified candidate for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position. This is a one-year appointment, with renewal contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of advanced numerical algorithms for large-scale CFD modeling and simulations.
• Develop, implement, and analyze efficient numerical methods for next-generation CFD applications on HPC platforms.
• Work as an algorithm developer within the CFD and Propulsion Laboratory.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Research experience in one or more of the following areas:
• CFD methods, numerical methods and analysis, stability analysis
• Scalable solvers, and domain decomposition methods
• C++ programming, parallel programming, GPU programming
• Stochastic partial differential equations (PDEs), stochastic processes and analysis
• Model reduction, surrogate model development
• Uncertainty quantification
• Experience with:
• AI/ML (preferred)
• Supercomputing (preferred)
• Large-scale computational infrastructure and workflows (preferred)

Qualifications

• PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, or other related field.
• Must be within 5 years post-PhD by the start date.
• Preferred: Peer-reviewed publications in computational mathematics and/or computational/numerical methods.

Salary and Application

• Anticipated hiring base salary: $53,000.
• Estimated salary range: $47,500 - $90,000, commensurate with experience.
• Apply online through the UVA Job Board, searching for position number R0083690.
• Upload:
• A cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three professional references
• Review of applications begins June 2, 2026; position remains open until filled.
• Note: Multiple documents may be uploaded.