Development of Test Bed for Open Rotor Evaluation
ORAU • Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Role & seniority: NASA Postdoctoral Program fellow (postdoc) in Aeronautics; 1–3 year research appointment.
Stack/tools: Aerodynamics, aeromechanics, and aeroacoustics design tools; experience with ducted/un-ducted fan concepts; Advanced Noise Control Fan (ANCF); turbomachinery lab collaboration (Notre Dame).
Top 3 responsibilities
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Support design and implementation of converting ANCF to un-ducted operation.
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Develop/validate prediction tools for aerodynamic, aeromechanic, and aeroacoustic performance.
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Integrate findings into propulsion concepts evaluation and coordinate with NASA/ND Turbomachinery Lab.
Must-have skills
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Doctoral degree in a relevant field.
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Familiarity with aerodynamic, aeromechanic, and aeroacoustic design considerations.
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Experience with propulsion test beds and modeling/simulation related to fan/propulsor hardware.
Nice-to-haves
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Experience with un-ducted fan concepts and propulsion system integration.
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Work with ducted/un-ducted fan test setups; multidisciplinary design/analysis exposure.
Location & work type
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U.S. citizen required.
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Postdoctoral fellowship to conduct research at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or NASA-affiliated institute; term 1–3 years.
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Application via NASA Postdoctoral Program (Zintellect); deadline 2026-03-01 18:00 ET.
Full Description
Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code
0034-NPP-MAR26-GRC-Aero
How To Apply
All applications must be submitted in Zintellect
Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org)
A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes
Research proposal Three letters of recommendation Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline
3/1/2026 6: 00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
About the NASA Postdoctoral Program
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.
Description
NASA’s goals are to investigate more efficient, cleaner, and quieter commercial aircraft propulsion concepts. These concepts need to be evaluating quicky and accurately. NASA requires a low-cost flexible test bed to conduct these evaluations and whishes to modify an existing ducted fan test bed to operate in an un-ducted version. (The Advanced Noise Control Fan, which is owned by NASA, and operated by the University of Notre Dame Turbomachinery Lab). Familiarity with and prediction tools for aerodynamic, aeromechanic, and aeroacoustics design considerations is required. This post-doc position will support the design and implementation of the conversion of the ANCF to un-ducted operation.
Field of Science: Aeronautics
Advisors
Daniel Sutliff
(216) 433-6290
Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org
Point of Contact
Mikeala
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
Degree: Doctoral Degree.
