Xianzhang Xu Lab M.S. and Ph.D. Research Openings in Fluid Dynamics, Control and Physics AI
University of South Alabama
Incoming University of South Alabama Assistant Professor Xianzhang Xu is recruiting M.S. and Ph.D. students for Spring 2027 to study fluid dynamics, system dynamics and control, physics-guided machine learning, aerospace and marine systems, and physics AI.
Xianzhang Xu will join the University of South Alabama as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the William B. Burnsed Jr. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering in Fall 2026. He plans to recruit M.S. and Ph.D. students beginning in Spring 2027.
The new research group will work at the intersection of physics-based and data-driven modelling, machine learning and optimal control. Research applications include aerospace and marine systems, unsteady aerodynamics, flow estimation and control, and physics AI.
Potential research themes include fluid dynamics; system dynamics and control; physics-guided and physics-informed machine learning; reduced-order and data-driven modelling; flow-field reconstruction from sparse measurements; optimal control; unsteady aerodynamics; and aerospace or marine applications.
Degree routes: the department officially offers a thesis-based Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Department faculty can also supervise doctoral research through the Ph.D. in Systems Engineering or the Biomedical Engineering track, so Ph.D. applicants should confirm their exact program and concentration with the supervisor.
Funding note: the recruitment announcement does not state a guaranteed assistantship, stipend, tuition waiver, scholarship amount or funding duration. The department reports that graduate assistantships support many graduate students, but applicants must confirm whether funding is available for this specific position.
How to express interest: email Xianzhang Xu and describe your research interests and potential fit. Include a current CV and concise academic background to make the initial enquiry useful. Applicants invited to proceed must complete the University of South Alabama's formal graduate admission process.
Benefits
- Join a new research group at its formative stage.
- Work at the intersection of physics-based modelling, data-driven methods, machine learning and optimal control.
- Pursue research with aerospace and marine applications, including unsteady aerodynamics and flow estimation and control.
- Potential access to University of South Alabama graduate research facilities and interdisciplinary collaborations.
- Funding, tuition coverage, stipend amount and appointment duration are not stated and must be confirmed directly.
Eligibility summary
- Prospective M.S. and Ph.D. students seeking to begin in Spring 2027.
- Research interests aligned with fluid dynamics, dynamics and control, physics-guided machine learning, physics AI, aerospace systems or marine systems.
- No specific degree background, GPA threshold or nationality restriction is stated in the recruitment announcement.
- Applicants must meet the current admission requirements for the relevant University of South Alabama graduate program.
- International applicants must verify current English-language, financial-documentation and U.S. immigration requirements.
Requirements
- Strong interest in one or more of the advertised research themes.
- Preparation for quantitative graduate research in engineering, applied mathematics, computing or a related field.
- Ability to meet the relevant M.S. or Ph.D. program's formal admission requirements.
- Final research topic and degree route must be agreed with the prospective supervisor and graduate program.
Documents required
- The announcement requests that interested candidates contact Xianzhang Xu by email.
- A current CV and concise description of research interests are recommended for the initial enquiry.
- Formal applicants must provide the documents required by the selected University of South Alabama graduate program.
Language/test requirements
How to submit applications
Provider: William B. Burnsed Jr. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Alabama
Email xxu@southalabama.edu about Spring 2027 M.S. or Ph.D. research opportunities. Funding is not stated in the announcement and must be confirmed directly.
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