Post-Doctoral Associate- Prof. Bruggeman

About the Job

Post-Doctoral Associate

Professor Peter Bruggeman

This is a one-year full-time position. It is possible this position might be extended for a second year depending on satisfactory performance, the availability of funds and/or work for the position, and meeting standard University employment requirements. This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship.

In this position the research will focus on lab studies and analysis of iron oxide reduction with H2 (and ammonia) The goal is to develop a fully electrified microwave hydrogen plasma process to replace blast furnace technology. The proposed approach uses microwaves to generate an ionized hydrogen gas that supplies significant gas heating at ambient pressures. The technology will use blast furnace and direct reduction grade iron ore concentrates, eliminating the emissions associated with the palletization, sintering, and coke-making steps in the conventional blast furnace process.

Duties/responsibilities

• performing high level experimental, theoretical, and numerical research and data analysis (65%)
• presentation publication, and proposal preparation (10%)
• mentoring PhD and MSME students (10%)
• laboratory organization and management (10%)
• other duties as assigned (5%)
• In this position you will be expected to perform high level experimental, theoretical, and/or numerical research. Your primary research project will focus on H2 plasma iron ore reduction, but you will have some latitude to study a variety of scientific topics chosen through mutual agreement and within the constraints of available funding.
• In this context, you might be expected to generate new research ideas and lead development of new research proposals.
• In this position, you will collaborate with a highly interdisciplinary team within the University of Minnesota and partner universities. Such collaborations may also extend to leading the communication with industrial partners through regular progress reports and supporting technology transfer processes where applicable. You will also be expected to participate in preparing, presenting, and discussing data with study investigators.
• You will be expected to author, co-author, and otherwise collaborate on preparing publications for peer review describing research results, assisting with the preparation of progress reports as required by funding agencies, preparation of presentations for conferences, attendance at grant review meetings, and assisting with proposal preparation. You will also be expected to participate in preparing, presenting, and discussing data with study investigators.
• As a post-doctoral associate, you will be encouraged to serve as a leader on your research team by mentoring graduate students, undergraduate students, and/or lab technician research team members. This may include advice on technical questions, data analysis, discussions on the development of research plans, preparation of manuscripts and reports, participating in the application / execution of established techniques to other projects, and helping them to develop and pursue their own independent research as a co-author.
• You might be acting lead on research projects and expected to effectively coordinate research activities within the project team, communicate project needs, and provide regular updates on project progress to the lab group and Principal Investigator.
• You will have joint responsibility for the organization and management of laboratories under the faculty mentors supervision ensuring all lab members follow all safety protocols, properly recording data from experimental and numerical research and promptly backing up all data.
• While in this position you might also have the opportunity to teach courses offered in our department. These duties would be to prepare and deliver lectures, prepare homework assignments, quizzes and exams, hold office hours, assess student work, supervise the teaching assistants and manage the administration of the course.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field
• Laboratory/research experience; some familiarity with general lab techniques and safety procedures; some experience in reactor design/assembly
• Experience with heat exchangers, condensors, filtration, plasma/combustion and/or chemical reactor design.
• Ability to plan, execute, and analyze experiments - including explaining lab techniques and proposing safety procedures, maintaining lab records
• Some programming experience (Excel, Matlab, Labview, etc)
• Data analysis skills (Excel), including some understanding of statistics, e.g. error bounds.
• Problem solving skills (logic, not just math)
• Suitable chemistry background; basic understanding of mass and heat transport processes; ability to learn from and use literature
• Ability to work in a team setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

Some familiarity and interest in developing skills in:

• simple lab mechanical maintenance and repairs;
• simple wiring/soldering;
• chemical analysis methods;
• characterization techniques like mass spectroscopy, sorptometry, light microscopy (having SEM & XRD skills is a plus);
• safety issues in working in hood with solid particles and various gases

About the Department

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has an internationally recognized faculty, and is part of the College of Science and Engineering, the highly interdisciplinary college of engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $62,232.00 per year; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nations most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.