Research Opportunities at MIT Media Lab Mediated Matter
A new graduate or post-doc position is available at the Mediated Matter group, please forward to anyone who might be interested and qualified.
Call for Researchers: Bio-inspired Armor Design
The Mediate Matter group is seeking a researcher in graduate or post-doc level to carry interdisciplinary research at the crossroads of digital fabrication and structural biological and bio-inspired materials. The purpose of this funded DOD research is to elucidate understand structure-property relationships of biological exoskeletons using state-of-the-art multi-scale experimental and computational mechanics-of-materials methods and implementing these findings in a new fabrication technology able to dynamically mix and vary material properties on the fly. Examples of topical areas include the roles of hierarchy, multi-layering, functionally graded and geometrically-interlocking inter-phases, spatial heterogeneity, anisotropy, and confinement. The aim is to both enhance the fundamental understanding of the concept of “mechanical property amplification,” i.e. how biological systems achieve orders-of-magnitude increases in strength and toughness relative to their constituents, which occur in a non-additive manner beyond composite rule of mixture formulations; and to implement these findings in the generation of a suite of armor designs supporting weight reduction and increased flexibility / mobility without degradation of protection capabilities, improved multi-hit capability, and multifunctional performance across diverse operational environments. Co PIs include Prof. Christine Ortiz and Prof. Mary C. Boyce.
REQUIREMENTS: a B.S. in material science and engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or related fields. Digital fabrication experience in an academic or industrial research setting is ideal. Position requires experience in several or all of the following areas: computational geometry, digital fabrication, FEA and CFD simulation, parametric modeling. Must be a passionate experimentalist able to learn quickly and communicate ideas across various disciplines and skill levels within academic circles and industry. Superb time-management skills required along with an ability to work under pressure. Seek independent and self-motivated designers or engineers with mechanical hands-on experience and a hacker attitude. Demonstrated background or interest in bio-inspired fabrication a plus.
Please apply by email to neri@mit.edu. Applications will be processed as received.