Openings GONGs-lab 2022nov

Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering
Ph.D. & postdoc opportunities in the Sustainable Infrastructure Materials (SIM)

Lab at Rice University
Research Direction: The Sustainable Infrastructure Materials (SIM) Lab, led by Dr.
Kai Gong at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Rice
University, has 1-2 fully-funded PhD openings (starting in the fall of 2023) and one
postdoc position (starting in the spring of 2023). Successful candidates would have the
opportunity to work on one or more of the following research directions: (i) novel low -
CO2 cement and concrete technologies, (ii) CO 2 capture and utilization, (iii) waste
encapsulation and recycling, (iv) atomistic simulations of glasses or minerals, (v) digital
fabrication in construction, (vi) machine learning, or related topics. High -motivated
candidates with academic degrees in CEE, materials science, geochemistry, chemical
engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, earth sciences, or other closely related
fields are encouraged to apply. Knowledge and prior experience in atomistic
simulations, advanced characterization of materials (e.g., cements, concrete, ceramics,
and glasses), glass synthesis, life cycle analysis, or machine learning are desirable but
not required.
About our lab: Research at the SIM lab lies at the

intersection of civil engineering, materials science,
and environmental sustainability. A major goal of our
lab is to help decarbonize important infrastructure
material flows (e.g., cement and concrete) in our
societies. Specifically, we will focus on solving the
most critical material science problems related to
industrial decarbonization, waste recycling,
sustainable and durable infrastructure materials, and
digital fabrication in construction. To achieve our goals, we will combine the following
two approaches:
✓ A bottom-up approach, where we will employ state-of-the-art material

characterization techniques (including synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering)
and advanced computational tools (including molecular dynamics simulations
and density functional theory calculations) to uncover the underlying physics
and chemistries governing key material properties, thereby providing guidance
to transform these materials technologies fundamentally.
✓ A top-down approach, where we will leverage materials informatics, machine
learning, and industrial ecology to identify critical research areas where there
are huge opportunities to reduce the environmental burdens of materials flow in
our societies.
How to apply: If you are interested in the PhD openings, please submit your
application via the graduate admission website and indicate your interest in working
with Dr. Gong during the application. All applicants should meet the minimum
admission requirements set by the CEE department and Graduate School of Rice
University. Prospective students may contact Dr. Gong ([email protected]) with the email
subject line “Prospective Graduate Student" and include a CV, unofficial transcripts,
the contact information of three references, and a brief personal statement highlighting
the motivation, skills, and research interests relevant to any of the above -mentioned
areas.
If you are interested in the postdoc position, please contact Dr. Gong with the email
subject line “Prospective Postdoc” and include a CV, the contact information of three
references, and a brief statement highlighting your research interests. Application
deadline: we will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.
About Dr. Gong: Dr. Gong is currently a postdoctoral research associate in the
Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and an adjunct assistant professor at Rice University. Starting Jan. 2023,
he will join Rice University’s CEE department as a tenure-track assistant professor. He
earned his M.A. and Ph.D. (Jan. 2020) degrees joint between CEE and Materials
Science from Princeton University and received a master’s degree in Civil Engineering
from Monash University in Australia and bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering from
both Monash University and Central South University in China. More information about
Dr. Gong can be found here.
About Rice University and CEE: “William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is an
elite private research university in Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near
the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. It is one of the most
prestigious and highly-rated higher-learning institutions in the world. Rice is regularly
ranked as one of the best academic institutions in the world and is am ong the most
selective in the U.S.” ---Wikipedia. Our CEE is a small department with 14 core faculty
members (including our university president and three members of the National
Academy of Engineering).

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Department of Civil &

Ph.D. & postdoc opportunities in the Sustainable Infrastructure Materials (SIM)

About our lab: Research at the SIM lab lies at the

✓ A bottom-up approach, where we will employ state-of-the-art material

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