About This Role
This research associate position contributes to the Reprogrammable Metamaterials project, focusing on the analysis, design, fabrication, and testing of mechanical metamaterials. The role involves working under the supervision of Professor Damiano Pasini within the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Responsibilities
- Analyze and design optimize metamaterial unit cells and lattice architectures with tunable or switchable mechanical properties, including multistable, origami/kirigami-inspired and stimuli-responsive designs
- Develop analytical and computational models (e.g., finite element analysis, discrete/reduced-order models) to predict nonlinear mechanical behavior, instabilities and reconfiguration pathways
- Fabricate prototypes using additive manufacturing (multi-material 3D printing, laser cutting) and other fabrication techniques
- Plan and conduct mechanical experiments (quasi-static and dynamic testing, digital image correlation) to characterize and validate metamaterial performance
- Investigate actuation and programming strategies using mechanical, thermal, magnetic or electrical stimuli
- Analyze data, interpret results and compare experimental findings with theoretical predictions
- Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, and contribute to grant proposals and reports
- Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team and mentor undergraduate and graduate students involved in the design, fabrication, testing, and analysis of reprogrammable mechanical metamaterials
Requirements
- PhD in Mechanical Engineering or Physics or related fields
- At least five (5) years of research experience
- Strong background in solid mechanics, multiscale theory, nonlinear elasticity, structural stability and buckling
- Proficiency with finite element software (e.g., ABAQUS, COMSOL or ANSYS) and scientific programming (Python or MATLAB)
- Knowledge of mechanical metamaterials, architected materials or soft/smart materials
- Experience with mechanical testing equipment and experimental data analysis
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment
- Authorized to work in Canada
- Willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located
Important Details
- Schedule: 20 hours per week (Part time)
- Position Start Date: 2026-10-09
- Position End Date: 2026-12-31
- Application deadline: 2026-10-21
- Supervisor: Professor
- Unionized position: member of the AMURE (Research Associates and Assistants) bargaining unit
