African Student

Funded PhD opportunity in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI)/University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK).

We are seeking graduate research assistants to conduct research on following topics.
(a) Ultra-high temperature ceramics for extreme engineering applications, such as gas turbines, nuclear reactors, and aerospace systems.
(b) Oxide-based ceramics for energy storage, catalysis, and fuel cells.

Our lab specializes in thin films and coatings synthesis using physical v***r deposition (PVD) tools, followed by materials characterization with XRD, SEM, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, etc. In addition to new materials development, this position offers the opportunity to gain expertise in vacuum science and technology.

Graduate students will conduct their research at the UT Space Institute, which primarily focuses on graduate-level education and research. UTSI is located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, adjacent to the epicenter of US aerospace ground testing at Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). Numerous aerospace entities within a 50-mile radius provide opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers in the aerospace industry.

Interested candidates please send a resume (max 2 pages) to [email protected], along with a brief statement (max 1 page) outlining your interest in above topics and any relevant experience with conducting undergraduate/graduate level research particularly in thin films, PVD tools, refractory ceramics, or energy materials. Candidates without prior experience in these areas are also encouraged to contact. Please use “Prospective Graduate Student_ [Your Last Name]” as the subject line of your email.

An academic background (BS/MS) in Materials Science and Engineering/Metallurgical Engineering/Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace Engineering/Electrical Engineering is desired.

Application for fall 2025 is open now