Open Positions

The SPACE Lab at Rutgers is currently seeking two PhD students for projects in the areas listed below. These are fully funded positions with start date of either Spring 2025 or Fall 2025. Interested applicants should email a resume/CV and brief statement of interest to the lab director (Steven Berg, steven.berg@rutgers.edu) and prepare to apply to the graduate school by the appropriate deadline (Note: the deadline is Nov. 1, 2024 for Spring 2025 applicants and Jan. 10, 2025 for Fall 2025 applicants). The application process and requirements can be found in the School of Graduate Studies Website here: https://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/apply/overview

The project areas for the open positions are as follows:

Multimode Space Propulsion: Multimode space propulsion is the use of both combustion based chemical rocket propulsion and plasma based electric rocket propulsion on the same spacecraft with the same propellant. This project will involve experiment and modeling to further understanding of the use of combustion derived gases in plasma based thruster concepts.

VLEO Aerodynamics and Propulsion: Very low earth orbit (VLEO) is the orbital flight regime between 80-250 km which is currently not achievable using conventional spacecraft or aircraft design. We are pursuing efforts aimed at understanding fundamental gas surface interactions to both reduce drag and increase propulsive efficiency of airbreathing electric (plasma) engines in this flight regime. This project will involve a mix of experiments, physical modeling, and machine learning.

Questions should be directed to the lab director (Steven Berg, steven.berg@rutgers.edu).