Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering invites applications for a Research Associate. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

This position reports to the Principal Investigator and supports research in combustion modelling and reactive flow simulation. The work combines computational research, analysis of experimental and numerical data, and research support activities, such as the organization of technical conferences. The successful candidate will manage multiple priorities independently within project timelines, with occasional peak periods around publications, conference deadlines, and project milestones. The role involves close collaboration with graduate students, research staff, and external collaborators. 

The position of is a full-time on-site appointment, 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 7 hours per day.  The working location is 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 and language of work is English

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Research and Technical Contributions

• Work on the development of advanced combustion modelling approaches, including flamelet-based and tabulated chemistry methods in OpenFOAM
• Contribute to research on hydrogen combustion systems, including safety-related performance
• Perform numerical simulations using CFD tools (e.g., OpenFOAM) and conduct validation of numerical results against experimental measurements
• Analyze simulation results and generate technical reports, figures, and documentation
• Prepare research manuscripts, reports, and presentations

Programming and Data Management

• Develop and maintain scripts (primarily in Python) for data processing, automation, and post-processing
• Manage simulation data, ensuring proper organization, storage, and reproducibility
• Support use of high-performance computing (HPC) resources for large-scale simulations

Research Support and Collaboration

• Collaborate with graduate students and research staff on ongoing projects
• Participate in group meetings and contribute to research planning and problem-solving
• Assist with literature reviews and synthesis of relevant research findings

Conference and Research Dissemination Support

• Support organization of academic conferences, workshops, or seminars
• Contribute to development and maintenance of conference or research group websites
• Assist with database management for participants, submissions, and communications
• Support advertising and outreach activities, including preparation of promotional materials
• Coordinate logistics related to abstract submission, scheduling, and communication

Operational and Administrative Support

• Assist in maintaining research documentation and digital resources
• Ensure compliance with research data management best practices
• Support general research group activities as required

Qualifications / Requirements:

Required:

•  Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a strong background in combustion, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer
• Demonstrated experience in combustion research, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications (2-3 years)
• Experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the development of custom applications and libraries in OpenFOAM
• Experience with signal processing techniques and their application to combustion diagnostics
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Python for data analysis, post-processing, and automation
• Prior industry experience in a technical engineering role related to fluid mechanics (2-3 years)
• Development experience with turbulent combustion models (e.g., Flamelet-Generated Manifolds, Thickened Flame Model)
• Development experience with boundary conditions for simulations involving thermoacoustic instabilities in gas turbine combustors

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Linux/Unix and HPC environments
• Experience with modal decomposition methods (e.g., Dynamic Mode Decomposition, Proper Orthogonal Decomposition)

Application Deadline:   Review of applications will begin on August 11, 2026 and will close on September 8, 2026.

To apply for this position please visit the University of Calgary Careers page at https://careers.ucalgary.ca/ and search for Job ID 38095

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 1. Salary Range is  $27.12 - $39.45 per hour. 

Contact Information: Dr. Leo (Xiaohang) Fang, Telephone: +1 (403) 210-7035 Email: xiaohang.fang@ucalgary.ca 

Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Schulich School of Engineering University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Canada

Benefits: Extended Health Care, Dental, Flexible Spending Account, Long Term Disability, Group Life Insurance, Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP), Vacation, and Sick Leave. 

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

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Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.