Materials Analyst - Assistant Staff Member

Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Oak Ridge, TN

Full-time

Oak Ridge, TN

5,001-10,000 employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Materials Analyst - Assistant Staff Member position at Oak Ridge National Laboratory involves supporting the Program Director and a team of principal investigators in the mechanical and physical characterization of ceramic powders, including nuclear fuels. The role requires collaboration with a diverse team of research professionals and emphasizes strong technical writing and laboratory skills in mechanical testing and ceramic processing.

Responsibilities

• Collaboratively perform thermomechanical evaluations of a wide range of materials including ceramic powders and nuclear fuels.
• Collaborate on the identification of techniques/equipment and interpretation of results from ceramic powder characterization and processing.
• Perform characterization and processing of nuclear fuel ceramics in a radiological laboratory environment.
• Communicate status updates of current work to principal investigator(s) and program management.
• Independently write technical reports summarizing material descriptions and experimentation while providing support for interpreting results and providing recommendations for future work.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and quality program requirements.
• Maintain strong dedication to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace.

Requirements

• BS degree in ceramic engineering or a related engineering field.

Nice-to-haves

• A MS degree in ceramic engineering or a related engineering field.
• Demonstrable familiarity with mechanical properties of brittle materials through formal education or continuing education.
• Experience with ceramic powder characterization (e.g., particle size distribution, specific surface area, pycnometry, x-ray diffraction, and tap density).
• Experience in a radiological laboratory environment.
• Excellent technical writing skills.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams.