The Respiratory and Aerosol Dynamics Lab in the Virginia Commonwealth 
University Department of Mechanical Engineering invites applications from 
highly motivated individuals for a postdoctoral position.  This position is 
supported by an FDA sponsored project that seeks to advance the development of 
an existing CFD model of orally inhaled drug products that can account for 
inhaler characteristics, drug physicochemical properties, and physiological 
parameters on local and regional drug deposition throughout the airways.  In 
this study, an existing CFD model will be extended to predict deposition 
throughout the lungs (TB and alveolar regions) with the inclusion of wall 
motion.  Models will be developed that can account for intersubject variability 
in terms of both geometry and inhalation waveforms.  An emphasis of the current 
project will be on comparing both in vitro experiments and CFD predictions with 
available in vivo studies in terms of lung drug delivery and drug depositional 
distribution within the airways.  

In addition to excellent academic and publication records, applicants should 
have experience in computational modeling, advanced mesh generation in complex 
geometries, and multiphase transport.

To apply, please send a CV, transcript copy, list of three references, and a 
cover letter summarizing relevant experience to Dr. P. Worth Longest at 
pwlongest@vcu.edu.

The Mechanical Engineering Department at VCU offers a highly interdisciplinary 
research experience, which is essential for the study of multiphase respiratory 
dynamics.  Areas of expertise include transport modeling, computational fluid 
dynamics, life science engineering, and pharmaceutics.  This project is being 
performed in collaboration with the VCU Department of Pharmaceutics, which is 
located on the VCU Medical Campus.  The VCU Department of Pharmaceutics is 
widely recognized for its Aerosol Research Group, which specializes in the area 
of respiratory drug delivery, and organizes the international RDD Conference 
series each year.

VCU is an Equal-Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.  Women, minorities and 
persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.