STEM Research Mentor - Mechanical Engineering

Future Forward Labs is a STEM research mentorship institute that supports high school students in conducting professional-grade scientific research with PhD-level mentors. The Mechanical Engineering Mentor guides students through original research projects, including question development, experimental design, fabrication, testing, data analysis, technical writing, and competition presentations.

Responsibilities:

• Mentor assigned students (grades 7–12) in 1-1 video sessions, typically 45–60 minutes each, across a 4–9 month project arc
• Help each student scope a research question in mechanical engineering that is original, answerable at their level, and feasible with a home workshop, a school makerspace, or free simulation: structures and materials testing, 3D-printed and composite designs, mechanisms and compliant structures, heat transfer and thermal management, fluid flow, vibration and energy harvesting, biomechanics and assistive devices, or sustainable and low-cost manufacturing
• Teach the engineering research process end to end: literature search and reading primary papers, defining a measurable hypothesis, design of experiments with proper controls and repeated trials, data collection and statistics, and documenting a build so someone else could reproduce it
• Coach students on scientific and technical writing, prepare them for presenting, live judging and defending their research in competitions

Requirements:

• PhD in mechanical engineering or a closely related field (materials science, manufacturing engineering, biomechanics, applied mechanics)
• ABD candidates in their final year are welcome to apply
• Peer-reviewed publications in mechanical engineering or an adjacent area
• Hands-on experience designing, fabricating, and testing physical hardware, not only simulation: CAD, 3D printing or machining, instrumentation, and bench testing
• Working fluency in at least one CAD package and at least one of Python, MATLAB, or R for data analysis; familiarity with FEA or CFD tools
• Experience teaching, mentoring, or tutoring students, ideally high schoolers or early undergraduates
• Legally authorized to work as an independent contractor in the U.S. - must be US citizen of Green Card holder