About the role#
The Office of Water Programs is looking for a graduate student research assistant to support a project focused on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. You will work under faculty supervision to perform numerical simulations of water flow through and over spillway configurations using ANSYS Fluent.
What you'll do#
- Develop computational geometries and meshes for spillway flow simulations.
- Set up CFD models, including boundary conditions and solver settings.
- Run simulations and conduct post-processing and analysis of the results.
- Evaluate simulation data and assist with model verification and validation.
- Use MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for data analysis.
- Document modeling procedures, assumptions, and conclusions.
- Participate in regular research meetings to communicate your progress to the team.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment as a Sac State graduate student in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline, taking at least four semester units.
- A minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.
- Basic familiarity with ANSYS Fluent or similar engineering simulation software.
- A basic understanding of numerical modeling and engineering analysis.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Willingness to learn advanced CFD techniques under faculty supervision.
- Preferred: Completion of or enrollment in ME 259 (Computational Fluid Dynamics) or equivalent coursework.
- Preferred: Previous experience with CFD, fluid-flow simulations, CAD software, and technical report writing.
Location & details#
- Location: Sacramento, California.
- Work modality: On-site.
- Schedule: Flexible, Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM.
- Hours: Up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during breaks.
- Compensation: $26.00 to $30.00 per hour.
- This is a part-time, temporary, non-benefited student position.
About University Enterprises, Inc.
University Enterprises, Inc. is a non-profit corporation based in Sacramento, California. Founded in 1946, it provides programs and services to support the campus community at Sacramento State. The organization employs 133 people. It functions as a resource for the educational and social environment of the university.
How to get in at University Enterprises, Inc.
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