Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Gas Phase Actinide Chemistry

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a postdoctoral research associate to join the Nuclear Chemistry Team, which supports the goals of the Nuclear Sciences Division. The ideal candidate will support a mass spectrometry capability in the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory (RPL). The candidate will help build a gas phase actinide science capability at the RPL, a nuclear facility, within PNNL. This team currently utilizes tandem mass spectrometry to measure actinide reaction kinetics and thermochemistry. The ideal candidate would have experience applying physical chemistry techniques to measure chemical rates or physical constants (e.g. bond energies, ionization energies, etc.). Candidates with experience handling actinide or lanthanide materials will also be considered.

Requirements

• Received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
• Willing to work with radioactive materials.
• Experience applying physical chemistry principles to experiments to determine physical measurables.
• Experience operating mass spectrometry experiments and maintaining the instrument(s).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work individually and as a team member.
• U.S. Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Nice To Haves

• PhD in chemistry, physics, radiochemistry, nuclear engineering or related degree.
• Significant gas phase spectroscopy experience.
• Actinide/lanthanide coordination chemistry experience.
• Computational chemistry experience.

Responsibilities

• Support a mass spectrometry capability in the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory (RPL).
• Help build a gas phase actinide science capability at the RPL, a nuclear facility, within PNNL.
• Utilize tandem mass spectrometry to measure actinide reaction kinetics and thermochemistry.
• Apply physical chemistry techniques to measure chemical rates or physical constants (e.g. bond energies, ionization energies, etc.).

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Flexible work schedules
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Robust telehealth care options
• Several mental health benefits
• Free wellness coaching
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending accounts
• Basic life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Business travel insurance
• Tuition assistance
• Relocation
• Backup childcare
• Legal benefits
• Supplemental parental bonding leave
• Surrogacy and adoption assistance
• Fertility support
• Company-funded pension plan
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• 120 vacation hours per year
• Ten paid holidays per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree