Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for two fully funded PhD students in Spring or Fall 2025. Exceptional candidates will join Dr. Zhipeng Deng’s research team focusing on interdisciplinary research:
- Optimization of building and urban energy systems for decarbonization
- Indoor environment quality and control
Self-funded master students and visiting scholars are always welcome.
Requirements
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical, electrical, civil, architecture engineering, computer science, or a related field. Ideal candidates should be self-motivated, responsible, and enthusiastic for research. Preferred candidates will have skills or be willing to learn energy simulation, fluid simulation, mathematical modeling, programming, and data analysis.
Apply
Please visit https://graduate.ucf.edu/admissions/ for more information of applying to UCF.
Interested candidates should email Dr. Deng (zhipeng.deng@ucf.edu) with subject prospective PhD student + name + starting time with following documents in one pdf:
- CV/Resume and academic transcripts.
- A brief statement of your research interests.
- Contact information for three references.
Why choose UCF?
UCF, one of the largest universities in the US, hosts four specialized energy research centers and clusters to carry out related research: Resilient, Intelligent and Sustainable Energy Systems (RISES) center, Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformation (REACT) cluster, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), and Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER). Next to campus, Central Florida Research Park is the fourth largest in the US by number of companies. The thriving park has a symbiotic relationship with UCF, and many students can find internships and employment opportunities with these companies. UCF is located in Orlando, Florida, home to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, and 40 minutes from the beach.
About Dr. Deng
Dr. Zhipeng Deng is a dedicated researcher and an assistant professor in MAE department at UCF. He received a bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and completed his PhD at Purdue University, then served as a postdoctoral researcher at Syracuse University. Dr. Deng’s expertise in utilizing cutting-edge technologies of big data and quantum computing has significantly advanced the understanding of built environment and optimization of energy systems.