Position: Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
Field: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Sub Fields: Boiling Heat Transfer, Pool Boiling, Flow Boiling
Location: University of Maryland, College Park 
Start Date: Spring 2025
Application Deadline: October 1, 2024

Position Overview:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland College 
Park is seeking a motivated and talented graduate student to join our research 
team as a Graduate Research Assistant in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics 
(CFD) for Multiphase Flow and Boiling Heat Transfer. The successful candidate will 
work under the supervision of Dr. Amir Riaz, contributing to the cutting-edge 
research projects focused on the numerical simulation and analysis of fluid flow 
phenomena and heat transfer.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct high-fidelity simulations of multiphase fluid flow using our specialized 
in-house scalable parallel CFD code on supercomputing platforms.
• Develop and implement computational models for complex boiling phase-change 
problems.
• Analyze simulation results and compare them with accompanying experimental data.
• Prepare research manuscripts, reports, and presentations.
• Collaborate with other team members and contribute to the interdisciplinary 
nature of the research.
• Participate in regular meetings and provide progress updates.
• Assist in mentoring undergraduate students involved in related research 
projects.

Qualifications:

• Education
Master’s or Bachelor’s degree with research experience in Mechanical Engineering, 
Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related field. 
Candidates should be eligible for enrollment in the graduate program at the 
University of Maryland College Park.

• Technical Skills
Strong background in fluid mechanics, numerical methods and heat transfer.
Experience with CFD code development using FORTRAN, C++, Python. 
Familiarity with parallel computing and high-performance computing (HPC) 
environments is a plus.
Proficiency in post processing data analysis and visualization tools such as 
Tecplot and Paraview. 

• Research Skills
Experience in conducting independent research, including literature reviews, data 
analysis, and scientific writing.
Ability to work effectively in a team and communicate complex ideas clearly.

• Personal Attributes
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Self-motivated, with a high level of initiative and the ability to manage 
multiple tasks.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Benefits:

Competitive stipend and tuition waiver.
Access to state-of-the-art computational resources and facilities.
Opportunities to present research at national and international conferences.
Professional development and networking opportunities within a collaborative 
research environment.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials:
1. A cover letter outlining your research interests and relevant experience.
2. A current CV or resume.
3. Academic transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable initially).
4. Contact information for three references.
5. A sample of your previous work (e.g., published papers, project reports) if 
available.

Please submit all application materials in a single PDF file to ariaz@umd.edu with 
the subject line “GRA Application – CFD – Spring 2025.”

Contact Information:

For further inquiries about the position, please contact:

Principal Investigator: Dr. Amir Riaz
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Mechanical Engineering 
University of Maryland, College Park
Email Address: ariaz@umd.edu