Collaborative Hypersonic And Missile Defense Faculty Research at AFIT

About the role

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is offering a faculty research fellowship in Collaborative Hypersonic and Missile Defense at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. As an ORISE participant, you will engage with AFIT Graduate School of Engineering and Management Faculty in Hypersonic Vehicle development.

Responsibilities

• Engage in configuring new geometries, modeling and simulating the vehicle response to aerodynamic, structural, and thermal loading conditions and conducting physical experiments for validation.
• Utilize computer packages such as ABAQUS, NASTRAN, CAPS, MatLab, DAKOTA, Kestrel, FUN3D, etc. for data generation, post-processing and response interpretation.
• Develop skills and experience in new and efficient methods of predicting the vehicle response under multiple flight paths, maneuvers, high-speed impacts, and multiple load conditions, and determine the vehicle's sustainability and resilience through the computation of stresses, deflections, and buckling resistance.
• Utilize computational tools for predicting aerodynamic pressures using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and analyze for vehicle stability, survivability, fatigue life and resilience under extreme operating conditions (e.g., high temperature operating conditions, vehicle response to various heat transfer modes).

Qualifications

• Current faculty member at an accredited 4-year university or 2-year college.
• Doctoral Degree in relevant fields such as Chemistry and Materials Sciences, Computer, Information, and Data Sciences, Engineering, Life Health and Medical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, or Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Benefits

• Health Insurance Supplement
• Relocation Allowance
• Training and Travel Allowance

Pay

Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location.

Schedule

Faculty appointments are generally for 10-12 weeks during the summer, but appointments during the academic year are also available. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

About AFIT

The mission of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is to help build America's airpower, by educating military and civilian Airmen to innovate effectively, efficiently, sustainably and affordably. We provide unique defense-focused, research-enabled, multi-disciplinary advanced academic education, as well as globally delivering career-long, action-based, functional professional continuing education, over a continuum of learning, on-command and on-demand.

About ORISE

This program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and DoD. Participants do not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DoD or any other office or agency. Instead, you will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Contact Information

If you have questions, send an email to AIRFORCE@orise.orau.gov. Please list the reference code of this opportunity AFIT-2025-0019-F in the subject line of the email.

Application Requirements

• Zintellect Profile
• Educational and Employment History
• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)
• Resume (PDF)
• One Recommendation

Citizenship

U.S. Citizen Only