Deputy Division Director for the Nanoscience & Technology Division

Argonne National Laboratory•Lemont, IL

About The Position

Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for the position of Deputy Division Director (DDD) for the Nanoscience and Technology (NST) Division, one of the five research divisions within the Physical Sciences and Engineering Directorate. NST conducts world-class research in nanoscience and nanotechnology and is home to the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility. The NST Division advances fundamental and use-inspired science at the nanoscale and develops leading-edge capabilities that support national priorities in materials, energy, information science, and advanced manufacturing. Through CNM and close engagement with Argonne’s other premier user facilities, including the Advanced Photon Source (APS) and the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF), NST enables transformative research spanning synthesis, characterization, theory, device integration, and data-enabled discovery. The Deputy Division Director partners closely with the Division Director to provide scientific, strategic, and operational leadership for NST and CNM. This role is central to shaping and advancing the division’s research agenda, strengthening the scientific impact and user program of CNM, and supporting the effective day-to-day management of division activities. The DDD will help identify and grow new scientific opportunities, foster collaborations across Argonne and with external partners, and contribute to the development of emerging research directions that expand NST’s scientific portfolio and national impact. This position offers an outstanding opportunity for a recognized scientist to broaden their scientific leadership experience while maintaining an active connection to research. In addition to leadership and management responsibilities, the DDD is expected to sustain a visible research program and engage scientifically with staff, users, and collaborators. The role offers a distinctive blend of leadership, operations, and research, making it especially attractive for candidates motivated by both scientific excellence and organizational impact. Argonne seeks candidates who can contribute to and broaden NST’s scientific strengths. Expertise in traditional NST disciplines is highly valued, as are backgrounds that could expand the division’s capabilities in areas such as biology, quantum information science, microelectronics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other emerging interdisciplinary fields relevant to nanoscale science and national user facilities. The DDD will also help strengthen existing programs and launch new efforts that benefit NST, CNM, and the broader Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs) ecosystem. This includes working collaboratively with users, universities, industry, and other research organizations to build strategic partnerships and position NST for future growth. The successful candidate will contribute to initiatives associated with Genesis and other AI-enabled scientific programs, helping ensure NST and CNM remain at the forefront of next-generation discovery and user-facility science. This description summarizes the general nature and level of work expected for this role. It is not intended to be a complete list of all duties, responsibilities, or activities. The selected candidate may be asked to perform additional duties as needed

Requirements

Ph.D. in the physical sciences, engineering, or a closely related field
Significant research experience in nanoscience, nanotechnology, materials science, applied physics, or related areas
Demonstrated scientific achievement, including a strong record of publications and national or international professional recognition
Experience in scientific leadership, program development, or management in a research environment
Comprehensive knowledge of nanoscience and nanotechnology
Ability to contribute scientifically to NST’s portfolio, including through expertise in established NST disciplines and/or emerging areas such as biology, quantum information science, microelectronics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or related interdisciplinary fields
Demonstrated ability to build productive collaborations with sponsors, users, universities, industry, and other scientific organizations
Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders
Experience leading or contributing to technical programs involving scientists, engineers, and support staff
Ability to help manage resources, operations, and scientific programs in a complex research environment
Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

Responsibilities

Partner with the Division Director to provide leadership and management for NST scientific programs and CNM operations
Help shape and implement the strategic scientific direction, goals, and priorities of the division and user facility
Identify, develop, and pursue new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy, universities, industry, and other research organizations
Help strengthen existing programs and initiate new programs that benefit NST, CNM, and the broader NSRC community
Build and sustain productive collaborations with principal investigators, users, operations partners, and external stakeholders
Support the growth and stewardship of a high-impact scientific user portfolio for CNM
Work with division and facility leadership to establish priorities, allocate resources, and ensure high standards of quality, safety, and operational efficiency
Help advance new instrumentation, technical capabilities, and scientific platforms for the facility
Contribute to strategic initiatives associated with Genesis and other AI, data-enabled, and machine learning-driven research programs
Maintain an active and visible research program, working directly with users and collaborators and staying current with emerging scientific developments and technologies
Serve as a spokesperson for the division and prepare and deliver reports and presentations related to planning, strategy, benchmarking, and scientific outcomes for division leadership, review committees, Argonne, DOE, and other stakeholders