Prospective Ph.D. students

We have identified candidates joining the FSML as PhD students in Fall 2025. Come back next year for potential future openings.

Paid Undergraduate research positions

The Fluid and Structural Mechanics Laboratory of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Tech University, led by Dr. Peng Zhang, is now recruiting multiple undergraduate researchers, with an immediate start date. The candidates must be a full-time enrolled undergraduate student at Tennessee Tech. The successful candidates will be involved in the experimental and computation aspects of the ongoing research projects of the lab. A list of ongoing projects can be found here.

The recruited candidates will be supported by a competitive stipend. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a CV, transcript, and a short description of your research interests to Dr. Peng Zhang (pzhang@tntech.edu).

Minimum Qualifications
The prospective undergraduate researchers are expected to have a strong interest in scientific research. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. The candidates must have: i) the motivation and drive to learn new concepts and knowledge; ii) outstanding oral and written English communication skills; and iii) a strong work ethic with the ability to work independently and in a group.

Preferred Qualifications
Candidates with strong interests in smart materials and sensors and/or experimental fluid mechanics are highly preferred.

About Tennessee Tech: Tennessee Technological University (https://www.tntech.edu/) is a public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee, United States with over 10,000 students. Within Tennessee Tech, the Mechanical Engineering Department is the largest department both in the College of Engineering and the University. In addition to involvement in research projects, graduate and undergraduate students have the opportunity to grow professionally through participation in student organizations and co-op opportunities. Graduates from the Mechanical Engineering program have a nearly one-hundred-percent employment rate within few months after graduation. The employers appreciate the hands-on experience, job-ready knowledge and skills, humility, work ethics, and professionalism our graduates bring them. Tennessee Tech is committed to a diverse workforce by fostering an inclusive work environment for students, faculty, and staff.