Our goal is to create a strong workforce to meet future hypersonic research needs. If your company has open internship or employment opportunities that you would like to post here, please email ucah@tamu.edu with your information.
Internship and Early Career Opportunities
Summary:
Amendment 1 to the NASA ARMD Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2024 NRA has been posted on the NSPIRES web site at https://nspires.nasaprs.com.
Link to the specific AAVP Fellowship Opportunities Solicitation on NSPIRES page: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary!init.do?solId={F0CDED04-5809-1C28-3620-766B128BAB97}&path=open
Link to the Notice of Funding Opportunity NOFO
The announcement solicits proposals from accredited U.S. institutions for research training grants to begin the academic year. This NOFO is designed to support independently-conceived research projects by highly qualified graduate students, in disciplines needed to help advance NASA’s mission, thus affording these students the opportunity to directly contribute to advancements in STEM-related areas of study. AAVP Fellowship Opportunities are focused on innovation and the generation of measurable research results that contribute to NASA’s current and future science and technology goals.
Research proposals are sought to address key challenges provided in Elements of Appendix A.8.
Notices of Intent (NOIs) are not required.
A budget breakdown for each proposal is required, detailing the allocation of the award funds by year. The budget document may adhere to any format or template provided by the applicant’s institution.
Two pre-proposal teleconferences for potential proposers will be held and meeting links will be posted on NSPIRES.
Proposals are due April 30, 2024, 5PM ET.
Location: Knoxville, TN
Summary:
Expand your research skills and knowledge this summer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the world’s premier research institution.
Details:
- FULL-TIME
- ON-SITE
- PAID WORK, PLUS ROOM AND BOARD
Using advanced preform manufacturing and processing, ORNL aims to open the design space, decrease production time, and decrease costs. Improvements in the manufacture of carbon and ceramic matrix composites will help advance hypersonics research.
Areas of Focus:
- HYPERSONICS MANUFACTURING
- HIGH-TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES
- ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Location: Burlington, MA
Summary:
Spectral Sciences, Inc., a small, employee-owned business dedicated to innovation and excellence in basic and applied research for over 35 years, seeks highly motivated and talented individuals with a strong background in the physical sciences and engineering. Research and development areas include gas and fluid dynamics, molecular modeling, remote sensing, atmospheric radiative transfer, combustion science, computational chemistry, 3-D and spectral scene modeling, electro-optical signatures analysis, and development of electro-optical instrumentation to support phenomenological studies and new measurement concepts.
The successful co-op candidate will work with a small team of scientists and engineers to develop software and algorithms for scientific R&D applications. This will include development of algorithms, modifications to existing software, development of high-performance software based on prototype algorithms, and testing of existing software algorithms and functionality.
Required Minimum Qualifications:
• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related degree• Must have a strong focus or background in software development and/or application of software to applied research
• Four semesters of undergraduate coursework
• Must be registered for co-op credit with your university during working semesters
• Must have a 2.9 or higher GPA
Preferred Qualifications:
• An appreciation for developing software in an engineering context to drive algorithm and system design for real world systems• Experience applying software development to real world problems, through student organization teams, competitions, course projects, or personal projects
• Strong math skills and ability to learn complex engineering concepts
• Interest or familiarity with modeling of gas flow, high temperature chemistry, and emission and transmission of light
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas to your peers
• Experience in 1 or more programming languages, ideally C++, Python, or FORTRAN
• Familiarity with Linux and open source tools
• Familiarity with Windows 7 or 10
• Experience with version control, ideally with git
• Experience with standard build systems, such as gcc/Make and/or Visual Studio
Location: Hampton, Virginia
Summary:
Work with researchers conducting experimental studies in hypersonic aerothermodynamics (e.g., vehicle aeroheating characterization and boundary layer transition test technique development). The student will work in the Aerothermodynamics Branch at NASA Langley. Research is usually conducted in the branch’s hypersonic wind tunnels. Students will assist in preparing and conducting experiments and tool development for analyzing hypersonic wind tunnel/flight data.
Location: Hampton, Virginia
Summary:
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Vision 2030 has identified laminar-turbulent transition modeling as a critical area in CFD simulation capability that will remain a pacing item in the foreseeable future. The student will work closely with an established team of NASA researchers to help advance the state of the art in the prediction of transitional and turbulent flows across the speed regime. The internship effort will support the development and/or applications of computational tools related to one or more of the following topics: 1. Computational analysis of boundary layer transition for canonical flow configurations of interest; 2. Development of transport-equation based transition models and/or integrate such models with CFD solvers; 3. Design and optimization of control devices for boundary layer transition and/or turbulent drag reduction concepts at supersonic and hypersonic Mach numbers; and 4. Numerical simulations of freestream noise in high-speed wind tunnels and flow response to freestream perturbations. Depending on the student’s background and interests, the internship tasks may range from grid generation, running existing CFD code(s), data analysis, application of physics-based transition models to NASA-relevant configurations, code development and/or making incremental improvements to code(s), to developing scripts/utilities to enhance the efficiency of the computational workflow. Strongly motivated students with an appropriate background have been able to contribute to research publications.
Location: Hampton, Virginia
Summary:
Prospective graduate student will work with NASA engineers to develop advanced flow visualization diagnostics for wind tunnel facilities at NASA Langley Research Center. Previous experience with MATLAB, Zemax OpticStudio, and image data processing techniques is preferable.
Location: Long Beach, CA
About Us: Auriga Space is developing an electromagnetic space launch system that offers significant advantages in launch cost, reliability, frequency, and responsiveness compared to conventional systems. Unlike rockets that rely solely on chemical reactions to produce thrust, Auriga’s proprietary electromagnetic launch solution uses electricity to accelerate the launch vehicle to hypervelocity.
Role Summary: We are looking for a mechanical/electrical/aerospace (or similar) engineering intern/co-op to join our team and assist in the development of hardware prototypes. The ideal candidate will thrive in a start-up environment and be excited to work with a small, high-performing, and hands-on team. You will have the opportunity to design, build, and test hardware while working across engineering disciplines.
Basic Qualifications:
- Is currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program for engineering, physics, math, or similar
- 3+ months of applied engineering experience (such as internship, laboratory, or personal/team project experience)
- Able to start working full time on-site beginning in Q1 or Q2 of 2024 for at least 12 consecutive weeks
- Willing to work in a hands-on, constantly evolving environment
- Detail-oriented and capable of effectively prioritizing and executing tasks
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
Desired Qualifications:
- 6+ months of applied engineering experience (such as internship, laboratory, or personal/team project experience)
- Strong comprehension of design fundamentals
- Experience with 3D CAD software
Location: Livermore, CA
Job Description:
We have multiple openings for undergraduate students to engage in practical research experience to further their educational goals. You will conduct research in the fields such as nuclear physics, radiation transport, hydrodynamics, astrophysics, plasma dynamics, numerical methods and computer science. Research projects combine theory with computation and are geared to further the students’ educational goals. This position is in the Strategic Deterrence Principal Directorate.
In this role you will
- Develop and/or employ high performance scientific software to complete novel research tasks.
- Work with mentors under close supervision on assigned projects.
- Present a required oral presentation of each project at the end of the summer.
- Present your work at a poster session.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Must be currently enrolled in an accredited university and actively pursuing an undergraduate degree in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field.
- Ability to apply basic principles of physics, engineering and/or computer science to solve technical problems.
- Effective written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Location: Livermore, CA
Job Description:
We have multiple openings for graduate level students and for students who have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree to engage in practical research to further their educational goals. You will provide technical and/or research support to projects in the areas of numerical methods, machine learning, computational physics, or other related fields. These positions are within the Strategic Deterrence Directorate.
In this role you will
- Provide technical and/or research support to projects in the areas of numerical methods, machine learning, computational physics, or other related fields, working with scientists, engineers, and technical staff members.
- Support documentation, testing, creation or modification of Laboratory software, hardware, or Computer operating systems.
- Conduct research in assigned area under limited direction and supervision.
- Perform technical assignments of basic degree of complexity and provide technical support to scientists in scientific research and development projects.
- Present work through presentations and/or poster sessions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Must be a continuing college or university student in good standing at an accredited institution pursuing a graduate degree or has completed their bachelor’s or master’s degree in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field.
- Experience applying advanced principles of physics, engineering and/or computer science to solve technical problems.
- Ability to conduct research and present and communicate concepts and ideas including research project(s), document work and give a technical talk/presentation.
- Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a team environment.
- Academic achievement in engineering, scientific and/or technical curriculum.
- Experience working with computers and familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Location: Livermore, CA
Job Description:
We have multiple openings for graduate students and for students who have received their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, to engage in practical research experience to further their educational goals. You will conduct research in the fields such as nuclear physics, radiation transport, hydrodynamics, astrophysics, plasma dynamics, numerical methods and computer science. Research projects combine theory with computation and are geared to further the students’ educational goals. This position is in the Strategic Deterrence Directorate.
In this role you will
- Develop and/or employ high performance scientific software to complete novel research tasks.
- Work with mentors under limited supervision on your assigned project.
- Present an oral presentation of each project at the end of the summer.
- Present your work at a poster session.
- Work on projects of greater complexity and given more freedom and responsibility to come up with fundamental solutions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Must be currently enrolled in an accredited university and actively pursuing a graduate degree or completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a focus in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field.
- Must have experience applying basic principles of physics, engineering and/or computer science to solve technical problems.
- Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must be able to work effectively in a team environment.
- Math, Physics and Engineering majors should intend to complete a Ph.D.
- Students should have a track record of achievement in their field of study.
Location: Livermore, CA
Job Description:
Computational Engineering Division (CED) has multiple openings for Graduate Student Interns. Our openings are for graduate level students and students who have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree who will be given the opportunity to engage in practical research to further their educational goals. Opportunities include technical and/or research support to projects in the areas of Computational Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or other related fields.
In this role you will
- Provide technical and/or research support to projects in the areas of computational engineering, or other related fields, working with engineers, scientists, and technical staff members.
- Gather and analyze data or information in support of scientific research.
- Conduct research in assigned area under limited direction and supervision.
- Perform technical assignments of basic degree of complexity and providing technical support to scientists in scientific research and development projects.
- Present work through presentations and/or poster sessions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Must be a continuing college student in good standing at an accredited institution pursuing a graduate degree or has completed their bachelor’s or master’s degree.
- Demonstrated academic achievement in Engineering Computer Science or a related field.
- Ability to apply computational science and/or mathematical principles to solve technical problems.
- Demonstrated effective communication skills.
- Ability to present and communicate concepts and ideas.
- Ability to work in a team environment.
- Familiarity with one or more of the following technical computing packages common in your discipline area: Matlab, TensorFlow, R, Python, OpenCV, or finite element simulation tools
- Experience working with computers and familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Location: Princess Anne, MD
Responsibilities:
- Design and utilize ground support equipment to test and validate telemetry system components.
- Perform environmental qualification testing of new sounding rocket components.
- Develop programming applications to test and validate components utilizing software in C, C++, C# and Matlab.
- Research and develop new engineering and specialty products.
- Develop technical documentation to evaluate and check electronic systems.
- Document the results of design, analysis and testing project tasks for technical reports and meeting presentations.
- Develop electrical engineering skills, principals and application approaches through participation in mission testing activities and reviews.
- Training will be required in:
- Electrostatic Discharge (ESD).
Required Qualifications:
- HS Diploma.
- US Citizenship.
- Must be an active student enrolled at an accredited university pursuing a BS/BA or MS/MA degree in Electrical Engineering.
- Knowledge or basic understanding of OrCad, Matlab and electrical schematics.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills.
- Must be local to the Princess Anne, MD location and/or able to commute on-site daily.
Location: Princess Anne, MD
Responsibilities:
- Apply theoretical knowledge relating to statics, dynamics, strengths of materials, and mechanical design in the design and analysis of flight and GSE structures as assigned by supervisor or mentor.
- Creation of manufacturing documents such as part and assembly drawings and Model Based Definition products utilizing SolidWorks.
- Work with Engineers, Technicians, and machinists in creating and updating technical documents.
- Coordinate with Production and Machine Shop personnel for fabrication of designed products.
- Maintain an engineering daily logbook and organize digital files for each project.
- Practice and learn competent technical professional behavior including memorandum writing, email and calendar usage via Outlook, and report weekly activities to supervisor via status reports. Present a capstone presentation at end of term to Senior Management.
- If required, assist with testing in the Environmental Testing Lab.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- HS Diploma.
- US Citizenship.
- Must be an active student currently enrolled at an accredited university pursuing a BS/BA or MS/MA degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
- Must have 3-7 semesters of Mechanical college engineering program completed.
- Exposure to statics, deformable bodies, mechanics of materials.
- Familiarity with at least 1 CAD software package, preferably SolidWorks.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills.
- Must be local to the Princess Anne, MD location and/or able to commute on-site daily.
Location: Arnold Air Force Base, Tullahoma, TN
Responsibilities:
• Serve the Hypersonic Systems Test Branch (TDH) to achieve hypersonic ground testing objectives.
• Work with the broader test team and customers to plan, execute, analyze, and report on Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) activities. These activities support the development of hypersonic defensive/offensive warfighting capabilities for the DoD.
• Tasks encompass several phases of the development process including test planning, design/fabrication of test hardware, ground testing, and reporting data to inform weapon system acquisitions.
• Assist with test & evaluation of advanced propulsion, thermal protection, and system integration for hypersonic systems.
• Work with fellow test engineers and test analysts preparing, executing, and analyzing tests in the Aerodynamic Propulsion Test Unit (APTU), J5 Facility, and/or High Temperature Lab (HTL) arc jets.
• Familiarize oneself with Air Force ground test capabilities and procedures.
Basic Qualifications:
• Full-time undergraduate student (junior) working towards a degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or other equivalent field of discipline from an accredited institution.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Cumulative GPA 2.95 or above.
• Ability to obtain a Security Clearance (funded by USAF).
Desired Qualifications:
• Hands-on experience through lab research projects, project teams, and/or work experience.
• Experience with aerodynamics, combustion, or airbreathing propulsion systems.
• Experience with thermal properties, calculations, and combustion parameters.
• Experience in testing aerospace hardware.
• Experience with CFD, CAD, or other design or analysis tools.
• Familiarity with Python or similar scientific programming tools.
• Demonstrated history of time and project management skills.
Find out more about the Premier College Internship Program (PCIP) at: https://afciviliancareers.com/currentstudents/
Find out more about the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) at: https://www.arnold.af.mil/
Email jonathan.katzman@us.af.mil by 06 October 2023 to learn more and apply for this role.
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Description:
Free Form Fibers (FFF) is actively seeking to fill a summer internship position, with responsibilities in both our Manufacturing and Research & Development departments.
FFF is actively commercializing its laser-driven chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) technology, while also allocating significant effort in materials and processing development projects through multiple government funding agencies.
The intern position is expected to toggle between activities in both areas as needed.
Market focus at FFF is on aerospace and hypersonics applications An individual will have opportunities to learn about high performance materials, high temperature composite fabrication and testing, and unique process technologies developed at the company.
A small business, Free Form Fibers is a high performance materials manufacturer located in Saratoga Springs, New York active in the field since 2006.
The company will offer a competitive compensation package Expected start date in late May, 2024 and concluding by mid-August.
Interested candidates should contact Free Form Fibers at recruiting@fffibers.com and please include a CV with your initial communication.
Post Doctoral Fellows: These appointments are associated with theoretical, computational, and experimental investigations that further advance hypersonics with a vision toward the endgame. The MAE Department seeks self-starters and highly motivated Post-Doctoral Fellows interested in experimental, computational, and theoretical studies involving (a) aerothermodynamics & instrumentation; (b) heat transfer & sensors; and, (c) material sciences. Significant opportunities are arriving that address national needs and interests. NM is known for high-speed aerothermodynamics, i.e., Sandia National Laboratories-where a NMSU-SNL Hypersonics Roadmap has been prepared and Los Alamos National Laboratory whose interests in material sciences stretch to hypersonics. White Sands Missile Range and Spaceport America are within a one-hour drive from campus.
Graduate Students: Fully funded and competitive Graduate Research Assistantships (salary, tuition, medical insurance, +) are available.
Please contact either Dr. Fangjun Shu, shu@nmsu.edu or Dr. J.I. Frankel, jfrankel@nmsu.edu
A post-doctoral research fellow position and graduate research positions for Ph.D bound students in computational high-Mach number flows are available in the research group of Prof. Deborah A. Levin at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign USA in the department of Aerospace Engineering. The research projects in the group involve laminar shock boundary layer interactions, jet-flow interactions, two-phase flows including dusty plasmas, and high-Mach number plasma sheath-boundary layer interactions primarily using direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and particle-in-cell (PIC) high performance computational tools. Postdoctoral applicants should have a good knowledge of high performance, massively parallel computing and knowledge of GPUs is helpful.
More information about recent publications may be found at: https://aerospace.illinois.edu/directory/profile/deblevin
The initial appointment period for a postdoctoral fellow is 1 year with reappointment for 2 or 3 years subject to performance and availability of funds. Applicants should send a CV, indicating available start date, recent publications, and contact information for 3 references to deblevin@illinois.edu.
Still in school and interested in co-ops, internships? Recently graduated and interested in job opportunities? Check out MITRE’s student programs.
About MITRE:
MITRE’s mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through our public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, we work across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation.
Professor Gregory Thompson at the University of Alabama is seeking motivated graduate candidate students to join his research group in three stimulating programs: (1) Creep behavior in ultrahigh temperature ceramics (UHTCs) (2) Micro-lattice construction from directed laser deposition and (3) Structural stability and mechanical behavior in compositionally complex refractory nanocrystalline alloys. Each of these programs provide collaborative opportunities for professional development with national laboratory and/or industrial collaborators enabling an enriching graduate research experience that will extend beyond just on-campus laboratory opportunities.
Professor Thompson has a dynamic research team of undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers who develop fundamental linkages between processing-structure-property relationships. This is achieved through developing expertise in utilizing advanced processes with analytical characterization methods. The outcomes of our work provide a fundamental basis for scientific understanding that informs engineering of new materials.
- The UHTC effort involves powder processing and consolidation of mixed-metal and mixed-nonmetal species to control point defects for creep responses at temperatures well above 2000 oC. Using a novel, non-contact means for thermomechanical loading, we will explore yet to be quantified behavior in relevant temperature environments. Interested candidates should have an interest in powder processing, mechanical behavior, and electron microscopy.
- The micro-lattice project leverages the use of laser chemical vapor deposition that enable fibers to deposit under the focal point of a laser and then grow as the laser retracts. Through multiple lasers, the ability to additively construct novel lattices is enabled. The candidate student should have a strong interest in deposition science, logic control of instrument design (mechatronics), and laser optics to build structures.
- The refractory nanocrystalline program involves the use of combinatorial powder processing, conformal coating of such powders by physical deposition, and thermal testing to identify refractory stabilized alloys, with solutes that alter grain boundary behavior. The interested candidate should have an interest in powder metallurgy, micro-mechanical testing, and atom probe/electron microscopy.
The University of Alabama Board of Trustees recently approved a Materials Characterization Equipment Renewal Program that will recapitalize the core analytical facility. New instrumentation includes an aberration corrected (S)TEM; modern TEM; multi-gas plasma focus ion beam (FIB); the highest resolution Ga FIB; a dedicated SEM for micro-mechanical testing; and the next-generation Local Electrode Atom Probe. These collective instruments provide exceptional opportunities to characterize and test materials in each of these programs ensuring opportunities for high impact science and engineering outcomes. Interested candidates can pursue a M.S. or Ph.D. in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering or a Ph.D. in the interdisciplinary Materials Science program. Other physical science or engineering graduate degrees are options based on candidate’s interest and development of the research topic above.
Prior student from Professor Thompson’s research group have found gainful employment at GE Global Research, Army Research Laboratory, Knolls Atomic Lab, Intel, Seagate, Apple, and a variety of other industries in the southeast and nation.
The University of Alabama is an R1 research institution, home for 38,000+ students, and is located along the banks of the Black Warrior River in West Central Alabama. It is approximately 60 miles from Birmingham, Ala. The Tuscaloosa metropolitan area, with more than 150,000 people, has been named “The Most Livable City in America” by the US Conference of Mayors and one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People” by America’s Promise Alliance. The city offers a variety of parks, an amphitheater for concerts, and a vibrant entertainment downtown.
Interested candidates should contact Professor Thompson for more information. Applicants received prior to February 1 are eligible for prestigious UA Graduate Fellowships.
Gregory Thompson, Ph.D.
Distinguished University Research Professor and James R. Cudworth Chair of Engineering
gthomps@ua.edu // 205-348-1589 // https://thompsonresearch.ua.edu/