Post Doctorate RA - Materials Sciences – Peptoid Nanomaterials Synthesis

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

4h • $69,000 - $119,100 • Onsite

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate's (PCSD’s) strengths in experimental, computational, and theoretical chemistry and materials science, together with our advanced computing, applied mathematics and data science capabilities, are central to the discovery mission we embrace at PNNL. But our most important resource is our people—experts across the range of scientific disciplines who team together to take on the biggest scientific challenges of our time.
The Physical Sciences Division stewards discovery science research portfolios including catalysis, materials science, separations, analytical chemistry, geosciences, and chemical physics. Our research strives to refine our molecular-level understanding of multiphase systems and phenomena including complex interfaces. We discover and apply new knowledge to address major national priorities and needs in energy sustainability through the development of new energy storage technologies and the creation of high-value fuels and materials from abundant wastes.

We are looking for a self-motivated Post Doctorate RA to join our team in the Physical Sciences Division at PNNL. The successful candidate will be vital in developing peptoid-based functional nanomaterials, which will include peptoid polymer chemistry, self-assembly of sequence-defined peptoids into crystalline nanomaterials, peptoid-based control over inorganic nanocrystal formation, peptoid folding, and fundamental understanding of solution peptoid crystallization processes. This position will require active collaboration with scientists from different areas including chemists, materials scientists, theorists, and device assembly and evaluation personnel.
This on-site position is located at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) campus in Richland, Washington.

Requirements

• Candidates must have 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 or Polymer Chemistry.
• Track record and research lab experience in polymer nanoscience, macromolecular self-assembly and bio-controlled inorganic crystallization.
• Proven background and publications in polymer nanoscience, chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science.
• Detailed knowledge of and hands-on experience with spectroscopic and microscopic nanomaterials characterization methods, such as AFM, TEM, SEM, and fluorescence microscope.

Responsibilities

• Conducting synthesis of sequence-defined peptoids using solid-phase processing and their purification.
• Conducting experiments for self-assembly of sequence-defined peptoids into hierarchical nanomaterials and understanding peptoid solution crystallization, multifunctional Layer-by-Layer (LbL) coating and/or spin coating using peptoid-based crystalline nanomaterials.
• Developing an understanding of the peptoid polymer chemistry and peptoid polymer folding.
• Determining important parameters of self-assembling peptoid sequences, such as pKa, critical micelle concentrations (CMC), critical chain length for macromolecular crystallization.
• Controlling the formation of inorganic (nano)crystals using surfactant-like peptoids and self-assembled peptoid nanomaterials as tunable scaffolds.
• Troubleshooting coating materials and evaluating them for selective moisture transport and (super)omniphobicity.
• Characterizing the structures and morphologies of peptoid-based biomimetic materials using a range of experimental techniques, including Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
• Providing timely report on research progress and presenting organized results to the internal and external teams.
• Leading manuscript development and maintaining a strong overall publication record in peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Disseminating the research results via participation in research conferences.
• Interacting, communicating, and coordinating with a multidisciplinary team of researchers within the Material Sciences group, PSD, and across PNNL.
• The ability to adapt, refine, or innovate experimental tools based on research needs.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in the completion of tasks important to the projects. These include preparation of first drafts of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, technical presentations at scientific conferences.
• Strong analytical skills, written and verbal communication skills with experience collaborating with a diverse group of scientists and technical staff.

Benefits

• Employees and their families are offered 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, and fertility support.
• Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match.
• Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

What This Job Offers

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