About the role#
This internship takes place at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) within the Foundational Technologies Directorate. You will join a multidisciplinary team focused on polymer physics. As a PhD-level intern, your work centers on the computational modeling of liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) to better understand their behavior in flow and under external electric fields.
What you'll do#
- Use molecular dynamics simulations to model the rheological behavior of LCPs.
- Collaborate with experimentalists to predict molecular-level responses and compare these with your simulation results.
- Refine your models to align with and explain experimental data.
- Coordinate with AFRL scientists, academic collaborators, and industry partners to refine research objectives.
- Document your findings and potentially contribute to a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a Ph.D. program in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a closely related field.
- Experience with coarse-grained polymer modeling.
- Proficiency in Python and large-scale simulation software such as LAMMPS.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- U.S. citizenship is required for this position.
- Experience with modeling rheology of complex fluids and soft matter is preferred.
- Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) environments is preferred.
- A record of research contributions in peer-reviewed journals is preferred.
Location & details#
- This role is located at the Air Force Research Laboratory (WPAFB) in the United States.
- This is a full-time, paid, on-site internship with a rolling term.
About AV
AV is a public company based in Arlington, Virginia, that specializes in defense and space manufacturing. The firm develops unmanned aircraft systems, ground robots, and software for autonomous platforms. It employs 3,034 people across multiple locations in the United States and Germany. The company focuses on integrated capabilities for modern defense missions.
How to get in at AV
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