join us

The CEW Lab has openings for MS and PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in two research directions.

Electro-chemo-mechanics in energy storage systems

All-solid-state batteries (SSBs) are an exciting direction for the lithium battery field, offering improved safety and energy density. Their all-solid-state nature also introduces new chemo-mechanical degradation phenomena — metal dendrites growing through the solid electrolyte, and microstructural degradation of the composite cathode on cycling. We are looking for BS/MS/PhD students to grow our effort in the fundamental understanding of how mechanical, chemical, and transport effects couple in solid-state batteries.

Nano-micro mechanical problems in water purification systems

Freshwater scarcity and rising demand for water supply are already critical in many arid regions and are becoming more pressing. Better membrane materials and structures for water purification are vital. We are looking for BS/MS/PhD students focusing on computational investigation of membrane stability in solution and of water and ion transport inside membranes.

What we look for

Candidates with a background in fluid or solid mechanics (finite element, phase field) and in continuum or atomic-scale modeling are encouraged to apply. Experience with electrochemistry is a plus but is not required to start. We are particularly interested in candidates with research experience in water desalination with semi-permeable membranes, solid-state batteries, or modeling of electro-chemo-mechanical coupled fields.

How to apply

Send a CV and a cover letter or research statement to Prof. Howard Qingsong Tu at howard.tu@rit.edu. Please say which of the two directions above interests you, and why.

RIT graduate admissions for the Department of Mechanical Engineering are handled centrally — applying to the lab directly does not replace the formal application, so please do both.