Post Doctorate Research Associate - Materials Science

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

6d • $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.

We are seeking an outstanding Post Doctorate Research Associate to join our group to explore phenomena involving ion adsorption, crystal nucleation, and particle interactions at solid-liquid interfaces, with applications to exploring fundamental problems in materials synthesis, geochemistry, and the function of energy materials. The successful candidate will have a strong background in nanoscale materials characterization, particularly in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). The successful candidate will utilize a suite of advanced AFM instruments and will develop novel approaches for using in-situ AFM to characterize atomic-scale adsorbates, solution structure, nanoscale precipitates, and intermolecular forces at solid-liquid interfaces. Experience with solution thermodynamics, interfacial chemistry, and/or electrochemistry are also beneficial. The candidate will work as part of a team that includes world-leaders in AFM, in-situ electron microscopy, advanced surface spectroscopies, materials synthesis, geochemical and materials modeling, and atomic scale simulations. The candidate will also prepare manuscripts for publication, present the research work internally and externally at national/international conferences, and develop new ideas for the funded research.

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.
• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• Background in one or more of the following research areas, involving nanoscale materials synthesis and characterization, interfacial surface chemistry, electrochemistry, and geochemistry.
• Strong background in atomic force microscopy, preferably with in-situ imaging in fluids.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects, while keeping accurate and legible operating records associated with assigned job.

Nice To Haves

• Experience operating in diverse in-situ conditions, or using advanced methods such as FM-imaging, EFM, Electrochemical AFM, SKPFM, or dynamic force spectroscopy are highly beneficial.
• Experience in materials synthesis, especially involving inorganic mineral phases and materials for energy applications, and experience using complementary nanoscale characterization techniques, including TEM, XRD, SEM, XPS, DLS, etc...
• Knowledge of interfacial chemistry, solution thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and/or physics of nucleation and growth.

Responsibilities

• Perform in situ AFM investigations of solution structure and interfacial dynamics at liquid-solid interfaces.
• Synthesize inorganic nanomaterials.
• Prepare manuscripts and presentations.
• Ability to work in collaboration with a diverse group of scientists and technical staff across the national lab, including experimentalists and computational modelers.
• Have strong safety-oriented laboratory skills.
• Ability to recognize abnormal operating conditions, correct and report to supervisor and warranty provider in a timely and responsible manner.
• Adapt, refine, or innovate experimental tools as needed.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills, and a demonstrated record of publishing in first class journals.

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
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees