Open positions

PhD positions in design, prototyping, and control of insect- and bird-inspired flapping-wing robots

The AIRmotion Lab welcomes applications for two funded PhD positions available Fall 2026/Spring 2027 on the design, prototyping, and control of insect- and bird-inspired flapping-wing robots. Applicants with a background in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or robotics, and hand-on experience in mechanism design, low-speed aerodynamics, and/or drone flight control hardware are preferred. 

If you are interested, please email your CV with the contact information of two referees and a list of publications (if any), academic transcripts, and a statement of research interest and motivation to Dr. Hoang-Vu Phan (vuphan@unr.edu). Applications that include all required documents will be fully reviewed; however, due to the high volume of submissions, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews. Highly motivated undergraduate and master’s students currently at UNR are also encouraged to contact for research opportunities. For more details about the UNR Mechanical and Aerospace Graduate Program, admission requirements, and formal application procedures, please visit https://www.unr.edu/me/graduate-programs. 

Postdoc positions

At this time, we do not have open positions for postdoctoral researchers. However, candidates who have secured their own funding or are planning to apply for external fellowships are encouraged to contact Dr. Phan to discuss potential research topics and opportunities for collaboration.