Current Positions:

- Ph.D.: 2 (U.S. citizens and Green card holders should contact the PI before applying/being admitted for scholarships from NSF, NIH, etc.)
- Master's: 1 (only two thesis-based MS students will be considered per year, and salary is available from the third semester based upon satisfactory performance)
- Bachelors: 1 (Junior students are encouraged to contact the PI for scholarships before applying; current UGA scholarships or internships include the REU, CURO research award, CURO research course, CURO thesis class, and others
- Middle/high school students: 1 for research experience; please note that the students will have to provide the following documents:
  - A signed parental release form is kept on file in the lab (attached in the email).
  - Hazardous Waste, Fire, and Lab training are required.
- Exchange Students for international students: 1

Ph.D. Candidate Requirements and Positions: Students with a background in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanics, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science, especially Polymer Science and Engineering, are strongly encouraged to contact the PI for the following openings. Candidates are expected to be self-motivated, team-oriented, and rich in hands-on experience, including but not limited to:

- Mechanical design of experimental set-up,
- Manufacturing at nano-micro-macro scale, and,
- Test of material physical and chemical properties (i.e., mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, morphological, topographical, rheological, tribological, surficial and interfacial interactions) and usage of scientific tools (i.e., DMA, DSC, TGA, UV-Vis, SEM, TEM, AFM, tribo-indenter, rheometer, goniometer, tensiometer, profilometer, FTIR, Raman, WAXD, SAXS, SANS), as well as,
- Expertise in modeling/simulation tools (i.e., Finite Element Method using ANSYS/ABAQUS/COMSOL, Molecular Dynamics using MATLAB/LAMMPS)

Please apply to UGA first before you contact the PI (Kenan Song, Ph.D., Email: kenan.song@uga.edu). Ph.D. candidates will be provided with financial support through Research Assistantships (RAs) or Teaching Assistantships (TAs) during their graduate studies. We collaborate closely with scholars from France, Germany, Israel, Qatar, the UAE, and Egypt, so visiting opportunities are available and optional. US citizens/green card holders should contact the PI before your applications to NSF GFRP, NASA NSTGRO, DOD NDSEG, DOE SCGF, and other fellowships from our supporters.

UGA ECAM Ph.D. program, especially the Ph.D. Engineering- Mechanics and Materials emphasis

Expected requirements to satisfy before graduation:

Be mature and professional (e..g, responsive, responsible, reasonable, and peaceful);
Publish at least one peer-reviewed paper per year in prestigious journals (expected >5 papers in total to complete the 4+ chapters in thesis, see the previous students' publication records);
Attend national and international conferences (expected 1+/year to ACS, APS, MRS, ASME MSEC, AIChE, SAMPE, TechConnect World) to present research results, build networking, and explore diverse career paths;
Possess collaborative attitudes with colleagues from the AMAML lab and others from the US industry/international institutes (1+ collaborative projects with supervised junior Ph.D., M.S., or undergrads);
Become independent researchers to propose an idea, validate the hypothesis, design the research methodology and execute the tasks;
Meet other standards from the university.

5 PhD and 1 Postdoc Openings at Kenan Song Group at UGA (2023-2025)

Job Postings: PhD and Postdoc Openings in Engineering Research

We are excited to announce multiple opportunities for motivated individuals to join our research team. We currently have 5 openings for PhD candidates and 1 opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher. If you are passionate about Agricultural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanics, or Materials Science, particularly Polymer Engineering, we encourage you to consider joining us.

Positions Available:

5 PhD Research Assistant positions
1 Postdoctoral Researcher position

Qualifications:

Candidates with a background in the specified fields are strongly encouraged to apply.
Ideal candidates are self-motivated, team-oriented, and possess hands-on experience.
Experience in areas such as the mechanical design of experimental setups for 3D printers, compatibility testing between printing inks and printer heads, manufacturing at various scales, and testing material properties (mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, morphological, topographical, rheological, tribological, surficial and interfacial interactions) is preferred.
Proficiency in using scientific tools such as DMA, DSC, TGA, UV-Vis, SEM, TEM, AFM, triboindenter, rheometer, goniometer, tensiometer, profilometer, FTIR, Raman, WAXD, SAXS, SANS is advantageous.
Expertise in modeling and simulation tools, including Finite Element Method (using ANSYS, ABAQUS, COMSOL) and Molecular Dynamics (using MATLAB, LAMMPS), is a plus.

Application Process:

Interested candidates are requested to send the following documents to kenan.song@uga.edu:

Resume
Cover letter detailing your career plan, research interests, and the names of three referees
Transcripts
Selected potential candidates will be contacted via email to provide three reference letters.

We look forward to receiving your applications and considering you for these exciting research opportunities. Email the PI regarding the hiring advertisement with links if you cannot find relevant application information.

UGA FFIRE Postdoctoral Scholar Application

Please check application webpage at: https://uga.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1902463

Mentoring Plan for Postdoctoral Researchers in the Kenan Song Lab

Dr. Kenan Song, an Associate Professor in Manufacturing Engineering at UGA, leads a dynamic research group focused on advanced manufacturing processes and materials, particularly in the field of polymer and nanoparticle processing for energy, health, and defense applications. This mentoring plan outlines how postdoctoral researchers (PDs) will be nurtured and developed within this vibrant research environment.

Training and Technical Skills Development:

PDs will play a central role in the research projects, responsible for specific research objectives. Regular weekly meetings will be held to discuss experimental design, result interpretation, and future research directions. PDs are expected to lead research paper writing and present findings at lab meetings and national conferences. They will also have the freedom to explore their own research ideas within the project scope and supervise undergraduate and graduate students. Besides, PDs will receive training in laboratory safety and ethical practices, aligning with UGA guidelines for postdoctoral associates.

Research Environment:

The Kenan Song Lab operates based on collaborations with a few research centers at UGA, providing access to state-of-the-art equipment and a collaborative atmosphere. PDs will benefit from a rich research environment and close interactions with faculty members with diverse expertise. Our well-equipped laboratories and shared instrumentation foster cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Communication Skills Development:

PDs will participate in project team meetings. Weekly virtual meetings with graduate students and senior personnel will enhance communication skills. PDs will publish research in discipline-specific journals and are encouraged to chair technical sessions at conferences.

Leadership Opportunities:

PDs will mentor undergraduate and graduate students, participate in manuscript reviews, and engage with national professional societies focused on diverse topics, such as precision medicine, digital agriculture, and defense system design.

Mentorship (Career Planning & Professional Development):

Upon joining the lab, PDs will create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) to set actionable career goals. Dr. Song and co-mentors will provide guidance and support, helping trainees leverage local resources. Regular meetings will track progress in achieving IDP goals.

Grantsmanship:

PDs interested in academic careers will allocate time for developing grant proposals. They will be encouraged to prepare at least one proposal per year, fostering skills in grant writing and securing research funding.

Mentorship Evaluation:

An annual survey will gather feedback from PDs to assess their experiences. Survey results will inform adjustments to the mentoring program, ensuring that PDs receive optimal training and support.

Overall, the Kenan Song Lab's mentoring plan is designed to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment for postdoctoral researchers, empowering them to excel in their research and prepare for successful careers in academia or industry.

UGA STEM2 Lab 1230 Kenan Song Lab-I

The Song lab-I at STEMII focuses on advanced manufacturing and characterizations, including textile engineering, coating technology and 3d printing platforms

Description: Located in the STEM II that is attached to I-STEM Phase I and strategically located near other core STEM facilities, the I-STEM Phase II building is located to the northeast of Davison Life Sciences Complex, east of the Ecology Building, and south of the Computing Services/Natural History Museum Building. It is bordered on the east by East Campus Road. This building, paired with I-STEM Phase I, would optimize collaborative interactions and innovations in chemistry, engineering, and related STEM disciplines for students and researchers. Both buildings have been master planned together to be situated above a multi-level parking deck, currently under construction. Phase II Construction was scheduled to start in December 2020.

UGA Boyd building Kenan Song Lab-II

The Song lab-II at Boyd focuses on energy management, including batteries, sensors, actuators, and soft robotics

Description: The Boyd Research and Education Center hosts Boyd Graduate Research Studies, Faculty offices, and engineering research laboratory and testing facilities, located at DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602.