Recruit

A postdoctoral position is available at UC Merced to work on the California Initiative for Solid-to-Plasma Dynamics for Fusion Energy, with Professors David Strubbe (physics), Aurora Pribram-Jones (chemistry and chemical biology), and Venkattraman Ayyaswamy (mechanical engineering). This project, funded by the University of California Office of the President, involves studying the early-time stages of formation of a plasma from a solid under intense laser irradiation, involving absorption, thermalization, electron-ion coupling, ionization, plasma equilibration, and plasma expansion. We are using electronic structure simulations (TDDFT and DFT), molecular dynamics, and kinetic plasma simulations. The project is a collaboration with UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, where experiments and other plasma simulations (including radiation hydrodynamics and machine learning methods) will be carried out. The postdoc may focus on electronic structure, molecular dynamics, and/or kinetic plasma simulations, depending on interests and qualifications, and may be jointly mentored by multiple PIs based on mutual interests. Duties will include developing theoretical methods, writing code, running calculations, communicating results in papers and conferences, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, and collaborating with other partners in the project.

There will also be opportunities to interact with the Consortium for High-Energy Density Science [https://cfheds.ucmerced.edu/], which is an NNSA-funded collaboration between UC Merced, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Florida A&M University, and Morehouse College. The project focuses on theoretical understanding of the electronic structure of matter under high temperature and pressure, and education and outreach to broaden participation in this topic.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. This includes the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy.

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from all qualified applicants, including women, minorities, veterans, and individual with disabilities, who will enrich the teaching, research and public service missions of the university. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy (https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction).

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system’s 10 campuses. With over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students (https://www.ucmerced.edu/fast-facts), UC Merced provides outstanding educational opportunities to highly qualified students from the heart of California, the nation, and abroad. The campus has special connections to nearby Yosemite National Park; is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design; and supports the economic development of Central California. The Merced 2020 Project doubled the physical capacity of the campus, and enhanced academic distinction, student success, and research excellence (https://merced2020.ucmerced.edu/).

UC Merced is a smoke & tobacco free campus (https://smokefree.ucmerced.edu/).