PhD openings in Computational Mechanics & Materials @ University of Kentucky

The MEshfree/MEshless MEthods Group (MEGroup) in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kentucky is seeking highly self-motivated individuals who have great interests in research areas of computational mechanics & materials.


Applicants should have strong background in solid mechanics and interests in meshfree/meshless methods such as Peridynamics. Related research experience in nonlinear materials modeling is a plus. Although these openings are desired for the Fall2023 semester, applications for other school terms will also be considered. Successful applicants will be provided with competitive stipend, tuition wavier and health insurance.

Interested individuals should send a detailed CV (including contact information for at least three reference) and undergraduate and graduate transcripts to Dr. Chen at hailong.chen@uky.edu.

About the Mechanical Engineering Department:
Mechanical Engineering is the largest department in the College of Engineering with 31 tenured and tenure-track faculty and over 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students. The college has state-of-the-art computational facilities, research labs, and classrooms. The department's faculty is engaged in federally funded research projects from agencies such as NSF, NIH, NASA, DOE, DOD, DARPA, NIST, and USDA. The department also has research centers and consortiums that collaborate extensively with industry. The department's externally funded research currently exceeds $10M/year.

About the University of Kentucky (UK):
The University of Kentucky is a public land grant institution that prepares students for an increasingly diverse and technological world. The University offers a broad array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs, many with national prominence. The University strives to nurture a true learning community - one that inspires academic growth and learning among faculty, staff, and students. The University’s research, scholarship, and creative activities support human and economic development through the expansion of knowledge and its applications in the sciences, social sciences, education, arts, humanities, business, and the professions.

UK is one of only seven universities in the U.S. that have Colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy on a single campus.
Home to nearly a dozen research centers, including the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, UK has been awarded over $300 million annually in federal, state, and industry research grants and contracts.

The William T. Young Library is among the world’s leading research libraries; its book endowment is the largest among public universities.
UK’s scholars – students, faculty and alumni – have been the recipients of many prestigious awards including the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes, and honored by distinguished organizations such as the Rhodes Trust, the Fulbright Scholar Program, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and the Metropolitan Opera.