NB: We wish to receive your application. However, it is imperative that applicants possess a well-defined and resolute career goal pertaining to the pursuit of a Ph.D. degree or postdoc fellowship in materials science. If uncertainty clouds your future aspirations or the rationale behind venturing into doctoral/postdoc research studies in this field, we advise against reaching out to us at this time. Experience has shown that candidates with ambiguous career goals may encounter challenges even after enrollment. While we celebrate numerous success stories, we have also learned valuable lessons from instances where unclear objectives led to unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, we encourage prospective applicants to reflect on their motivations and goals before engaging with our research group.
In our research group, all the time, we Expect Victory by Hard and Smart Working Without Dramma.
Please check the "Openings" page for more information. For graduate admission, please check our online guidance: click here for admission guidance.
Please note, due to a larege amount of inquiring emails everyday, we only reply to the candidates that we see a good fit. Importantly, We always keep every application even if we do not have an immediate opening, and will contact the candidate once the position becomes available. It is essential to know that we expect the applicants to submit ALL transcripts, CV, and a cover letter when you contact us, otherwise, we may disregard the application.
Strongly self-motivated students and researchers with high interests exactly on materials and processing design are welcome to join the PMMD lab. We perform process-microstructure multiscale modeling, which provides guideline of our alloy and processing design with focused experiments. The PMMD Lab focuses on developing fundamental methods for materials design (both experimental and computational), but we do care their applications in materials engineering.
We have plan to hire more graduate students for PhD program in 2024. If you have interest to apply, please contact Dr. Wei Xiong with your CV, cover letter, and transcripts attached in the email. If your application document is too large in size (>10MB), please save these documents in network drive as a link attached in the email to ensure the successful application.
To apply, please submit the application documents to Prof. Wei Xiong (weixiong@pitt.edu) with an email titled as "Graduate Application by Your_Full_Name.” The application package should include a complete CV, transcripts of your degrees (NOTE: All degrees), a list of reference contact, and a 1-page cover letter as statement summarizing your previous work and career goals (including an anticipated starting date). Review of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to learn the research lab and the University of Pittsburgh through the website before application: (http://www.pitt.edu/~weixiong) or (http://wxiong.weebly.com).
NOTE: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to every inquiry. To ensure your application is considered, please submit all required documents as outlined in the application instructions above. We appreciate your understanding.
For graduate admission, please check our online guidance: Click here to visit the webpage of admission process
If you are particularly intersted in our research lab, we suggest you to reach out to Dr. Wei Xiong first before you submit your appliation to the graduate admission.
At least one Postdoctoral Associate position is available at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh. The postdoctoral associate will perform research studies in the Physical Metallurgy and Materials Design (PMMD) Laboratory (http://www.pitt.edu/~weixiong) directed by Prof. Wei Xiong. Since the lab performs both simulation and experiments for materials design, the opening accepts applications in both computational materials and microstructure characterization. In fact, a strong candidate in computational materials science is more desired at the moment.
We have received a significant number of applications in the field of materials characterization, and as a result, we are in need of more applicants with computational backgrounds. If you have such a background and a strong record of publications, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
For application in Computational Materials Design, the candidates should be highly skilled in computational modeling of phase equilibria and phase transformations such as the CALPHAD method and ICME (Integrated Computational Materials Engineering). It is expected that candidates may be also familiar with basic materials characterization such as SEM/EBSD/EDS and mechanical testing. If the applicants only perform simulation, coding experience is desired since the research projects are expected to perform high-throughput calculations and machine learning, which will be applied to alloy design and additive manufacturing.
For application in Advanced Microstructure Characterization, candidates should be highly skilled in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) besides FIB/SEM/EDS/EBSD, although EPMA Electron Probe Microanalysis, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and alloy preparation experience will be considered as good complementary skills but not required. This position is primarily open for alloy research, but the ones with experience in the composite are also highly encouraged to apply.
For both possible positions, candidates are expected to be highly independent with a solid research background in physical metallurgy or phase transformations. A good track record of peer-reviewed journal publications is essential for a successful application.
The postdoc will work with experts in computational materials, additive manufacturing (metals 3D printing), and microstructure characterization in the PMMD lab and MEMS department. University of Pittsburgh has a center equipped with Nanoscale Fabrication and Characterization Facility (NFCF). http://www.nano.pitt.edu/facilities. The research opportunity will help the successful candidate to strengthen the skills in ICME and materials characterization for materials and processing design and will significantly help for future career development.
Qualified applicants must have a doctoral degree in materials science, metallurgical engineering, or a similar field prior to beginning employment. Salaries will be commensurate with relevant experience and based on the prevailing wage for postdoctoral fellows set by the University of Pittsburgh. The contract will be renewed annually depending on performance. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity.
To apply, please submit the application documents to Prof. Wei Xiong (weixiong@pitt.edu) with an email titled “Postdoc Application by Your_Full_Name.” The application package should include a complete CV, transcripts of all degrees, a list of reference contact, and a cover letter (less than 2-page) summarizing your previous work and career goals (including an anticipated starting date). Review of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to learn the research lab and the University of Pittsburgh through the website before application: http://www.pitt.edu/~weixiong. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and travel difficulties, the starting time will be negotiable, especially for the international applicants. The position will be open until filled.
We always welcome undergraduates to join our research lab to learn the research in materials design. We offer different research opportunities at the PMMD lab due to the close collaboration with industrial partners, and national labs.
At Pitt, thanks to the support of Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovations, we release some interesting research topics in different areas including additive manufacturing, alloy development, etc. If you have interests, please feel free to talk with Dr. Xiong by sending him an email.
https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/mcsi/URPApply/
