University of Utah MS and PhD Research Positions in Microfabrication for Space Astrobiology
University of Utah
Associate Professor Jungkyu Kim is recruiting MS and PhD students for immediate graduate research openings at the University of Utah. The project will build a microfabricated, chip-scale capillary-electrophoresis instrument that autonomously analyses trace organic compounds in icy-moon material for astrobiology research.
Associate Professor Jungkyu (Jay) Kim is recruiting graduate students for immediate MS and Ph.D. research openings in the Biomedical Micro-Nano Systems Lab at the University of Utah.
The project aims to build a microfabricated space instrument for astrobiology: a chip-scale system designed to analyse trace organic compounds in material from icy moons autonomously.
Research activities include:
- Cleanroom microfabrication of glass capillary-electrophoresis chips.
- Photomask design and photolithography.
- Wet etching, port drilling, thermal bonding and surface modification.
- Device packaging and capillary-electrophoresis separation testing.
- Integration with a programmable microfluidic-valve system.
How to apply: email a CV, a brief statement of research interests and the names of two references to jkim@mech.utah.edu. Applications are reviewed immediately, and the opening will be filled as soon as a strong candidate is identified.
The initial email review does not replace the University of Utah graduate-admission application. Candidates invited to proceed must submit the formal Mechanical Engineering application for the applicable MS-thesis or Ph.D. pathway and admission term.
Admission timing: the research opening is reviewed on a rolling, until-filled basis. Current formal department deadlines are October 1 for international Spring admission and November 1 for the domestic Spring final deadline. Fall applications have a January 1 international and domestic priority deadline and a May 1 domestic final deadline. International students are ordinarily admitted for Fall, although the department notes that candidates already in the United States may contact the Director of Graduate Studies about a Spring exception.
Benefits
- Immediate MS-thesis or Ph.D. research opportunity in the Biomedical Micro-Nano Systems Lab.
- Hands-on cleanroom training in glass-chip microfabrication, capillary electrophoresis and programmable microfluidics.
- Research experience developing miniaturised instrumentation for space exploration and astrobiology.
- Access to the University of Utah's interdisciplinary mechanical and biomedical engineering research environment.
Funding clarification: the recruitment announcement calls these graduate research positions but does not state a stipend, assistantship percentage, tuition coverage, health insurance, fees, duration or summer support. The department explains that grant-funded research assistantships are paid appointments and may qualify for tuition benefits when support conditions are met, but admission alone does not guarantee funding. Applicants should obtain a written offer confirming the exact package and renewal conditions before enrolling.
Eligibility summary
- Applicants seeking an MS-thesis or Ph.D. research position in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related graduate pathway.
- Suitable academic backgrounds include mechanical, electrical, biomedical or chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science or a related discipline.
- Prior experience in cleanroom work, photolithography, chemical or biological separations, microfabrication or microfluidics is highly preferred.
- Strong analytical skills, a solid engineering foundation and a serious work ethic are expected.
- Preference will be given to candidates currently residing in the United States or those without visa restrictions for U.S. graduate study.
- The department currently requires an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and the academic preparation required for the chosen graduate programme.
- Applicants must meet current University of Utah admission, English-proficiency and immigration requirements that apply to their circumstances.
The announcement expresses a preference based on U.S. residence or visa circumstances; it does not state a categorical nationality exclusion. Applicants needing a new visa should ask the supervisor and department whether their intended start date is feasible before paying for the formal application.
Requirements
- Email Professor Kim the requested initial-review materials as soon as possible.
- Explain relevant research interests and preparation in microfabrication, microfluidics, separations, analytical instrumentation or astrobiology.
- If invited to proceed, complete the University of Utah Mechanical Engineering graduate application for MS-thesis or Ph.D. study.
- The current formal application asks for a statement of purpose, résumé or CV, unofficial transcripts and recommendation letters.
- International candidates must provide acceptable evidence of English proficiency unless an official exemption applies.
- The GRE is currently optional, although applicants may submit it if it strengthens the application.
Documents required
- Current curriculum vitae for the initial email review.
- Brief statement of research interests.
- Names of two references for the initial supervisor review.
- For formal admission: statement of purpose, résumé or CV and unofficial academic transcripts.
- Formal recommendation letters required for the selected degree pathway.
- English-proficiency results and any academic or immigration documents required for international admission.
- Optional GRE results and an optional one-page research or publication writing sample, where useful.
Language/test requirements
How to submit applications
Provider: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah
The user-submitted recruitment image provides the project duties, preferred qualifications, eligibility preference, requested documents and rolling application route. Lab: https://biomems.mech.utah.edu/ Admissions: https://www.mech.utah.edu/grads/admissions/application-deadlines-and-instructions/ Financial support: https://www.mech.utah.edu/grad-handbook/financial-support/
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