Post Doctorate Research Associate - Materials for Extreme Environment

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

16h • $69,000 - $119,100

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.
As a Post Doctorate Research Associate in the Materials Sciences group, you will join a talented, multi-investigator team performing experimental and computational research to understand materials degradation in extreme environments. You will be involved in cutting edge research program focused on understanding degradation mechanisms of materials relevant to advanced nuclear fission, fusion, microelectronics and defense applications. You will also develop and apply cryogenic transfer atom probe tomography and electron microscopy methods for analyzing materials.

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

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, or a related field.
• Expertise in PFIB and APT demonstrated through publications.
• Proficiency in cryogenic transfer workflow.
• Experience with development of advanced data analysis methods and python programming.
• Understanding of application of machine learning for material science.

Responsibilities

• Cryogenic transfer atom probe tomography of structural and functional materials.
• Development of in-situ and ex-situ tools in conjunction with advanced data analysis with python programming for microscopic characterization of materials.
• Correlating synthesis, structure, and properties through multimodal analysis.
• Supporting technical leadership with organized results for progress reports and lead manuscript writing.
• Collaborating and solving technical problems with a diverse team.
• Presenting research at conferences and project meetings.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated through publications and presentations.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

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: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree