Postdoc position (AI for thermal management) at NTU Singapore

Institute: Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Country: Singapore

PI: Dr. Song Binyang joined the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2024. She earned her bachelor's degree and master's degrees in Automotive Engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, in 2011 and 2014, respectively. She completed her Ph.D. in Engineering Product Development at Singapore University of Technology and Design in 2019. Before joining NTU, Dr. Song Binyang gained postdoctoral experience at the Pennsylvania State University (2019-2021) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2021-2023), respectively. From August 2023 to August 2024, she served as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech.

She is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a collaborative research project between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and A*STAR (SIMTech) on AI-enabled, physics-guided structural design for high-performance thermal management systems. Target applications include heat exchangers, conformal cooling structures, and thermal systems for data centres, AI hardware, and electronics, etc.. The work spans simulation, AI model development, and experimental validation using additively manufactured and hybrid-manufactured prototypes.

Key ResponsibilitiesThe Postdoctoral Research Fellow will:

• Develop and implement high-fidelity CFD and FEA simulation workflows for modelling heat transfer, fluid–solid interactions, and pressure drop in complex thermal structures.
• Design and train physics-guided surrogate models (e.g. neural networks with embedded physical constraints) for rapid thermal prediction across geometries, materials, and scales.
• Contribute to the development of generative modeling frameworks for structural design of thermal management systems.
• Support experimental validation by correlating simulation and AI predictions with thermal measurements from fabricated prototypes.
• Collaborate closely with researchers at NTU and A*STAR, contribute to technical disclosures (IP), co-author high-quality journal publications, and assist in preparing proposals for future research projects.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students involved in the project.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, Computational Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermal management systems, and additive manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with CFD/FEA tools (e.g. ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL, OpenFOAM).
• Solid programming skills in Python (experience with PyTorch/TensorFlow is highly desirable).
• Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications.

Preferred Experience

• Physics-informed machine learning or surrogate modelling.
• Additive manufacturing or multi-material thermal systems.
• Optimization or generative modelling for engineering design.
• Experience working with experimental thermal characterization data.

Appointment Details

• Duration: 2 years (with possible extension subject to performance and funding).
• Start Date: As soon as possible.
• Location: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, with regular collaboration with A*STAR research institutes.
• Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience, following NTU postdoctoral scales.

How to ApplyInterested candidates should submit the following documents to [email protected]:

1. A cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience.
2. Curriculum vitae and 1-2 representative publications.
3. Names and contact details of 2 referees.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.