Students interested in joining in the lab should apply to the PhD program in the Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) department at Penn and mention my name in their personal statement. Applications are due in mid December; more information can be found here. Students with backgrounds in mechanical, aerospace, and/or environmental engineering or related fields will be well-prepared to contribute to the activities of the AWARE Lab. We are particularly interested in candidates with the following qualifications:

• Strong foundations in fluid mechanics, engineering mathematics, programming, and data analysis;

• Practical hands-on engineering experience (e.g. designing, prototyping, building, and testing);

• Intrinsic motivation to address pressing challenges in renewable energy and global climate in order to promote the flourishing of both human society and the environment;

• Evidence of innovation, initiative, and independent thinking in problem-solving; and

• A collaborative attitude and commitment to your colleagues' needs and goals in addition to your own.

Lab members will also have opportunities to engage with several interdisciplinary communities on campus, including the GRASP Lab, Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Environmental & Biological Fluid Dynamics @ UPenn, Penn Climate, and many more.

We welcome applications from prospective postdoctoral researchers with strong backgrounds in experimental fluid dynamics (e.g. PIV, PTV, wind-tunnel or water-tunnel measurements, and/or field measurements of geophysical flows), in addition to the qualifications listed above for PhD applicants. Candidates with a visible commitment to intentional and empathetic mentorship for younger researchers are especially encouraged to apply.

Applicants should send me a CV, a 1-page statement explaining how a postdoc in the AWARE Lab aligns with your research background and career vision, and contact information for 3 references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; start dates are flexible.

As with all lab members, postdocs will have opportunities to engage with several interdisciplinary communities on campus, including the GRASP Lab, Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Environmental & Biological Fluid Dynamics @ UPenn, Penn Climate, and many more.

Current undergraduates and master's students at Penn who are looking for hands-on research experience are encouraged to contact me directly with a copy of their resume/CV and a brief (1-paragraph) statement of their research interests in relation to the activities of the AWARE Lab. We are particularly looking for students whose skills and interests are geared toward hands-on work for fluid-mechanics experiments, including wind-turbine aerodynamics, urban atmospheric turbulence, and novel aerial sensing platforms. Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in engineering design, scientific programming, data analysis, and fundamentals of math and physics, as appropriate for their level of study.

Some of the lab's current areas of interest are listed below. Note that these are not guaranteed openings; specific projects and positions will depend on lab capacity and/or funding.

• 3D unsteady aerodynamics of flapping flexible wings with applications to wind-turbine blades, bird flight, and penguin swimming

• Large-scale, 3D field measurements of atmospheric turbulence in cities, complex terrain, and/or ocean waves

• Low-cost distributed wind measurements with novel/unconventional sensors

• Drones as atmospheric flow sensors (robotics / dynamical-systems background preferred)

• Urban turbulence measurements with a kinetic art sculpture

• Modeling and control of wind turbines and wind farms in unsteady flow environments

Our group is involved in a number of initiatives for outreach, education, and community engagement around themes of climate science, renewable energy, and sustainable engineering. We're always looking for enthusiastic team members who can bring a broad range of ideas and perspectives to these projects -- no engineering background required! Please email me with a copy of your resume/CV and a brief description of your interests and goals in relation to the following initiatives:

1. Measuring classroom ventilation with soap bubbles: After-school program for middle-school students, with the Netter Center's University-Assisted Community Schools program

2. Web-app development for public education about urban winds and their effects on extreme heat and air quality, with the Franklin Institute (in relation to the "Shimmer Wall" kinetic sculpture by Ned Kahn, located on the museum's south-facing wall)

• ENGR 2500: Energy Systems, Resources and Technology (N. Wei)

• MEAM 5480: Wind Physics and Applications (N. Wei)

• MEAM 5450: Aerodynamics (M. Mistry)

• MEAM 5380: Turbulence (G. Park)

• ENGR 5215: Energy and Sustainability: Science, Engineering, and Technology (L. Grundy)

• MEAM 5620: Water Treatment Engineering (S. McBride)

• EESC 4336/6336: Ocean-Atmosphere Dynamics and Implications for Future Climate Change (I. Marinov)

• More courses can be found here: Course Lists | MESE