Project Officer (Two-phase cooling)

The School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is a robust, dynamic and multi-disciplinary international research community comprising of world-class scientists and bright students. MAE prides itself in its excellent research capabilities in areas including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical, energy, industrial engineering, maritime engineering, robotics, etc. The school is equipped with state-of-the-art research infrastructure, housing a comprehensive range of cluster laboratories, test bedding facilities, research centres/institutes and corporate laboratories. Cutting-edge research in MAE addresses the immediate needs of our industries and supports the nation’s long-term development strategies. In the new era of industrial 4.0 and sustainable living, MAE is rigorous in developing new competencies to support the growth and competitiveness of our engineering sector in the global landscape. MAE has grown to be leader in Engineering Research, ranking amongst the top engineering schools in the world.

For more details, please view https://www.ntu.edu.sg/mae/research.

We are looking for a Project Officer to support research on the development of lightweight thermal management solutions enabled by additive manufacturing. The position focuses on the formulation and optimization of magnesium-based alloys and composite materials with enhanced thermal conductivity for additive manufacturing of advanced thermal management components. The candidate will be involved in powder feedstock development, material characterization, additive manufacturing process optimization, and the evaluation of mechanical, thermal, and microstructural properties of the developed materials.

In addition, the candidate will contribute to the development of surface microengineering strategies for additively manufactured magnesium alloys to enhance heat dissipation performance. This includes the design and implementation of chemical, electrochemical, and micro/nanostructuring approaches to tailor surface wettability and interfacial heat transfer characteristics. The candidate will also support the design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation of lightweight cold plates and other thermal management devices using advanced manufacturing technologies. The outcomes of this work will support a research project led by the Principal Investigator aimed at developing next-generation lightweight thermal management solutions for electronic, energy, and defense applications. The project will deliver impactful innovations that address industry needs while strengthening the University's research excellence in additive manufacturing, advanced materials, and thermal engineering.

Key Responsibilities:

• The candidate will conduct experimental research in the development of lightweight additively manufactured thermal management solutions based on magnesium alloys and advanced surface engineering technologies. The key responsibilities and job scope are:

• Develop and optimize magnesium-based alloys and composite materials with enhanced thermal conductivity and mechanical performance for additive manufacturing applications,

• Formulate and characterize powder feedstocks, including assessment of powder morphology, particle size distribution, flowability, and printability for metal additive manufacturing processes,

• Investigate the incorporation of thermally conductive fillers and reinforcements into magnesium alloys and evaluate their effects on material properties and manufacturability,

• Perform additive manufacturing process development and optimization, including process parameter studies, print quality assessment, defect analysis, and post-processing of printed components,

• Conduct material characterization, including microstructural, thermal, mechanical, and chemical analyses using relevant experimental techniques and ASTM standards,

• Develop and optimize surface microengineering strategies for additively manufactured magnesium alloys through chemical, electrochemical, thermal, and micro/nanostructuring approaches,

• Investigate the effects of engineered surface structures on wettability, heat transfer enhancement, boiling performance, and thermal management applications,

• Design, fabricate, and evaluate lightweight cold plates and other thermal management devices using the developed materials and manufacturing processes,

• Conduct thermal performance testing and validation of fabricated components under relevant operating conditions and benchmark performance against conventional solutions,

• Assist in the development of design guidelines and manufacturing rules for additively manufactured magnesium alloy thermal management systems,

• Work closely with graduate students, research staff, industrial collaborators, and project partners to achieve project milestones and deliverables,

• Assist in the preparation of technical reports, project presentations, intellectual property disclosures, Journal publications, and research documentation, and

• Support laboratory operations, equipment maintenance, safety compliance, and project management activities related to the research programme.

Job Requirements:

Required educational qualification, experience, skills and competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field,

• Basic knowledge of materials science, heat transfer, and manufacturing processes, with exposure to thermal management applications being an advantage,

• Familiarity with metallic materials, alloy development, powder metallurgy, or material characterization techniques,

• Experience in metal additive manufacturing technologies such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), directed energy deposition (DED), laser metal deposition (LMD), or related advanced manufacturing processes,

• Understanding of microstructural characterization techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, and mechanical testing, is preferred,

• Experience in surface engineering, surface modification, chemical processing, electrochemical techniques, or micro/nanostructured surface development is an advantage,

• Familiarity with experimental design, laboratory testing, data acquisition, and data analysis for materials and thermal performance evaluation,

• Exposure to CAD software and engineering design tools, with experience in design for additive manufacturing being an advantage,

• Ability to support the design, fabrication, and testing of thermal management devices and engineering prototypes,

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple research tasks,

• Good teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment

We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Hiring Institution: NTU