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Current Opportunities at Vanderbilt

Postdoctoral Researcher Position - Additive Manufacturing, Process Control, and Digital Twins We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join an interdisciplinary team working at the forefront of advanced manufacturing. This position focuses on integrating additive manufacturing, in-situ sensing, data fusion

Department Electrical and Computer Engineering
Full Description

Postdoctoral Researcher Position - Additive Manufacturing, Process Control, and Digital Twins

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join an interdisciplinary team working at the forefront of advanced manufacturing. This position focuses on integrating additive manufacturing, in-situ sensing, data fusion, and digital twin frameworks to enable real-time process control and to establish robust correlations between manufacturing conditions and mechanical properties.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of intelligent manufacturing systems that leverage multi-modal sensor data and image-based analytics to improve process reliability, part quality, and performance prediction in additively manufactured components.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and optimize additive manufacturing processes (laser powder bed fusion or extrusion-based systems).
  • Design and implement in-situ monitoring strategies using multi-modal sensors (e.g., physical, thermal, optical, acoustic).
  • Apply data fusion techniques to integrate heterogeneous sensor streams for real-time process understanding.
  • Develop digital twin frameworks to model, simulate, and predict process behavior and material outcomes.
  • Utilize image processing and computer vision techniques to analyze melt pool dynamics, layer quality, and defect formation.
  • Correlate process parameters and sensor data with resulting mechanical properties (e.g., strength, fatigue, microstructure).
  • Conduct mechanical testing and materials characterization to validate predictive models.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams in materials science, mechanical engineering, and data science.
  • Publish research findings in high-impact journals and present at conferences.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
  • Strong background in additive manufacturing processes and materials.
  • Experience with process monitoring, sensing technologies, and data acquisition systems.
  • Proficiency in data analysis, machine learning, or data fusion techniques.
  • Experience with image processing and computer vision (e.g., Python, MATLAB, OpenCV).
  • Familiarity with modeling and simulation approaches relevant to digital twins.
  • Knowledge of mechanical testing and structure-property relationships.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Ability to work independently and in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with real-time process control systems.
  • Knowledge of metallurgy and microstructure evolution in additively manufactured materials.
  • Familiarity with high-performance computing or cloud-based simulation environments.
  • Experience translating research into industrial or applied manufacturing settings.

What We Offer:

  • Opportunity to contribute to next-generation smart manufacturing technologies.
  • Access to advanced additive manufacturing and characterization facilities.
  • A collaborative and innovative research environment.
  • Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience.
Application Details

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for at least two references to shekhar.bhansali@vanderbilt.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Contact Shekhar Bhansali
shekhar.bhansali@vanderbilt.edu
Posted 2026-04-06 16:32:08

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