Post Doctorate RA - Autonomous Materials Synthesis and Characterization

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Post Doctorate RA will support the development of autonomous experimental capabilities and lead a campaign aimed at integrating multiple laboratory instruments for solving research problems in materials science. The candidate will join a growing team of domain scientists (materials scientists, chemists, and engineers) working routinely with robotics, data, and AI scientists to develop autonomous materials synthesis, separations, characterization, and processing capabilities at PNNL. In addition to the capability development skills, we are interested in candidates who demonstrate scientific leadership and reasoning skills, a track record of hypothesis-driven research, and interest in fundamental science and discovery.

Requirements

• Received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Nanoscience
• Experience in nanomaterials synthesis and characterization, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and scattering tools
• Experience in using and developing agentic AI workflows, operating and trouble-shooting high-throughput instruments
• Experience in communicating with both domain scientists and AI/data scientists

Responsibilities

• Leading experimental campaign using liquid-handling robots and high-throughput instruments for materials synthesis, characterization, and processing.
• Deploying agentic AI workflows developed in-house and providing feedback on performance to AI scientists; testing, validating, and using AI-generated code for operating instruments; interacting with robotics experts to identify needs for instrument integration.
• Identifying impactful problems and fundamental knowledge gaps that can be addressed using automated lab capabilities; designing and proposing hypothesis-based research problems in materials science.
• Disseminating results in peer-reviewed publications; presenting at conferences; routinely updating various stakeholders; meeting deadlines; communicating with colleagues from both domain science and data science side of the project.

Benefits

• health insurance
• flexible work schedules
• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• telehealth care options
• mental health benefits
• 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
• vacation hours
• paid holidays

What This Job Offers

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