DOE-EM (EMGFP) Post Masters Fellow - Geochemistry

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management. The Earth Systems Science Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, provides leadership and solutions that advance Earth system opportunities for energy systems and national security. We are a multidisciplinary division connected by a shared commitment to innovate and collaborate towards solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management Graduate Fellowship Program is seeking graduate fellows to work on some of the nation’s greatest cleanup efforts. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to collaboration and work–life balance. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven interns come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them! Cleanup of highly complex waste, contaminated soil, and groundwater is one of the Department of Energy’s most important environmental challenges. The EM Graduate Fellowship Program (EMGFP) provides recent graduates with an opportunity to conduct hands-on research that supports the mission of DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM). Environmental remediation of legacy waste requires assessment of a range of scientific data, including soil and groundwater analyses, geology, geophysical measurements, and data from remediation systems. In this project, the selected candidate will help advance spectral induced polarization (SIP), an electrical geophysical method for real-time monitoring of subsurface remediation technologies. The project will explore how SIP can be used to understand the behavior and effectiveness of two types of remediation approaches: Liquid phosphate amendments used to promote in situ apatite formation. Reducing agents, such as zero-valent iron (ZVI), used for immobilization and degradation. The candidate will combine geophysical measurements with geochemical and mineralogical data to better understand what is happening during remediation. The goal is to develop SIP as a practical, non-invasive way to monitor where remediation amendments are distributed, how they react in the subsurface, and how well they continue to perform over time. You do not need to be an expert in SIP or environmental remediation to be successful in this position. We are looking for a motivated early-career scientist who is excited to learn, work with different types of data, and contribute to an important environmental challenge. This fellowship offers an opportunity to develop skills in laboratory research, data analysis, and environmental remediation while working with an interdisciplinary research team. Fellows will also have opportunities to turn research findings into practical recommendations that can support environmental cleanup decisions.

Requirements

Candidates must have received a Master’s degree within the past 24 months or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
Eligibility for this position is limited to candidates who graduated with their undergrad or masters at a Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Geophysics, Geology/Geoscience, Geochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, or a closely related field
Laboratory experience.

Responsibilities

Conduct laboratory experiments to collect spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements and other supporting chemical and mineralogical data.
Analyze and interpret different types of environmental data to understand how remediation treatments change over time.
Explore relationships between geophysical measurements and changes in the chemistry and minerals present in the system.
Work with team members from different scientific backgrounds to evaluate how effectively remediation treatments are working.
Help develop approaches for monitoring remediation progress and long-term performance.
Communicate research findings and contribute to recommendations that can support environmental remediation efforts.