Openings

We are always looking for motivated students and postdocs who want to work at the boundary of mechanics, biology, and materials.

What we do

Our work is computational and theoretical, with close ties to experimental collaborators. Day to day, that means developing mechanics models, running finite element simulations, and working through problems analytically. Most projects eventually connect to a physical experiment — either in our collaborators’ labs or in the field.

The problems we work on span a wide range: self-burying seed carriers for reforestation, magnetically driven reconfigurable devices, shape-changing food, biofilm control on medical implants, and the mechanics of embryonic tissue formation. What these share is that mechanics is the tool, not the end goal.

PhD applicants

A strong background in solid mechanics, applied mathematics, or a related field is important. Experience with finite element software (ABAQUS or similar) or scientific computing is helpful but not required — these are skills you can learn in the group.

More important is genuine curiosity about physical problems and the patience to work through them carefully. Our projects tend to be interdisciplinary, so comfort working with people from biology, materials science, or engineering design is a plus.

If you are interested, please apply to the MAE PhD program at Syracuse University and mention our group in your application. Feel free to email Prof. Zhang at tzhang48@syr.edu with a brief introduction and your CV.

Postdoctoral applicants

Postdoc positions are filled as funding allows. If you have a strong mechanics background and an interest in one of our research directions, send a CV and a short description of your research interests to tzhang48@syr.edu.

Undergraduate students

We occasionally take undergraduate students for research projects, particularly through the MAE REU program. If you are a Syracuse undergraduate interested in getting involved, reach out directly.