Open Positions
Last Updated June 2022
The Gas and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (GPDL) directed by Dr. Han has multiple funded (tuition coverage and biweekly/monthly stipend) Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) openings expected to start in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. Ph.D. students are preferred for these positions, although outstanding M.S. students will also be considered for applicable projects. Active research projects are on the following topics:
- Lunar exploration including modeling and experimentation on lunar surface environments – vacuum, thermal, electrostatic, plasma, and dust.
- Mining the Moon.
- Fundamental dusty plasma phenomena with applications to space/lunar exploration and general / fundamental plasma physics including nuclear fusion.
- Space electric propulsion, particularly, electrospray propulsion.
- Plasma-biochemical materials interactions (anticipated to start Fall 2022).
Other types of financial supports in forms of Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) and/or Fellowships (campus level or national level) are also anticipated for outstanding and eligible applicants. Successful applicants are expected to be/have:
- Self-motivated
- GPA 3.6+ or strong confidence of graduate school success
- Background in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear, Physics or related field
- Strong programming/computing and/or hands-on experiment skills
Interested applicants may contact Dr. Han along with a copy of current resume/CV, unofficial transcript, and contact information of 2-3 references.
Other Open Positions and Research Opportunities
If you are interested in challenging research that applies gas and plasma dynamics to scientific and engineering problems in aeronautics and astronautics, please contact Dr. Han. On-going projects with open positions and research opportunities include:
- Development of PIFE-PIC, a 3-D parallel immersed finite element particle-in-cell code for plasma simulations
- Plasma interactions with airless space bodies (Moon, asteroids)
- Project of the student’s own interests – an idea initiated by the student
General Requirements/Expectations
- Minimum GPA 3.6
- Background in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear, Physics or related field
- Strong programming/computing and/or hands-on experiment skills preferred
Undergraduate Students
Applications accepted during early Fall (August) and early Spring (January) terms. Please send a resume to Dr. Han.
Requirements/Expectations
- Available to work 10 hours a week
- Plan to participate in and draft research paper/poster/presentation for Missouri S&T Undergraduate Research Conference and Missouri Space Grant Consortium conferences
Funding Opportunities
- Missouri Space Grant Consortium, application due September 1
- Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE), application due March 1
- Other Scholarship/Fellowship Programs
Graduate Students
Applications accepted at any time. Please send a resume/CV to Dr. Han.
Requirements/Expectations
- Regularly attend and present papers at major national conferences, such as AIAA SciTech, IEEE ICOPS, AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum, and ERPS International Electric Propulsion Conference
- Publish research in major peer-reviewed journals, such as AIP Physics of Plasmas, AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal of Computational Physics, and Computer Physics Communications
Funding Opportunities
Nation-wide
- NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF), replaced by NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) since 2019.
- DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships
- DoD Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship
- Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowships
State-wide
Missouri Space Grant Consortium, application due September 1