Post Doctoral Research Associate in the School of Mechanical Engineering in sensors and actuators for wrinkle-free manufacturing of flexible electronics and battery materials

We are seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Purdue University in the School of Mechanical Engineering in sensors and actuators for wrinkle-free manufacturing of flexible electronics and battery materials.  The anticipated start date is Fall 2023.

The successful candidate will join the Multiphysics Vibrations Lab led by Profs Ryan Wagner and Arvind Raman and contribute to advancing sensing and actuation technologies for flexible electronics and battery materials manufacturing.

Commercial roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing systems are used to fabricate flexible electronics, printed sensors, wearable devices, solar cells, battery materials, and touch-sensitive displays.  Roll-to-roll systems, consisting of a web pulled over multiple rollers, and subject to physical/chemical vapor deposition and lithography with layers of insulating, semi-conducting, or conducting materials. Ambient systems include wet transform printing/coating, heat treatment/curing.  Web stress states during manufacturing can sometimes result in web wrinkling which significantly reduces quality and yield.  Previously, our group has developed a laser-based vibration monitoring that relates the resonance frequencies of the web to the cross-span web tension distribution.  Moving forward, we aim to develop novel approaches for detecting and suppressing the onset of web wrinkling by leveraging mechanical, electromagnetic, and thermoelastic forces. We aim to deploy these technologies in commercial R2R systems with industrial collaborators.

• A recent Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering
• Experience in computational solid mechanics, electromagnetics, thermomechanics, plate and shell theory, wrinkling, continuous vibrations, or other multiphysics continuum mechanics frameworks
• Experience with setting up experiments and systematically analyzing experimental data

Interested candidates should submit the following to Prof. Ryan Wagner at rbwagner@purdue.edu . 

• Cover letter, highlighting research interests, relevant experience, and motivation for applying.
• CV including publications, academic achievements, and contact information for two references.

Purdue University, the College of Engineering, and the School of Mechanical Engineering are committed to advancing diversity in all areas of faculty effort, including discovery, instruction, and engagement. Candidates are encouraged to address in their cover letter how they are prepared to contribute to a climate that values diversity and inclusion.

Purdue University, the College of Engineering, and the School of Mechanical Engineering are committed to free and open inquiry in all matters. Candidates are encouraged to address in their cover letter how they are prepared to contribute to a climate that values free inquiry and academic freedom.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply