Postdoctoral Appointee – Mechanical Engineering

Argonne National Laboratory • Lemont, IL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Applied Materials Division at Argonne National Laboratory seeks a Postdoctoral Appointee to contribute to projects developing advanced dielectric thermal fluids, lubricants, coatings, and high-temperature materials. Work involves modeling analyses, numerical simulations, experimental tests, and scale-up approaches to improve performance for applications including high-power transformers, data centers, and geothermal energy utilization.

The appointee will collaborate with Argonne staff to establish technical approaches for developing advanced dielectric fluids for high-power transformers. Tasks include formulation techniques, mechanism analyses, multiphysics models, and experimental validation. The role also contributes to projects involving data-center thermal management, corrosion-resistant coatings, and thermal energy-storage systems, as well as technical reports, conference presentations, and journal papers.

The position requires on-site presence at Argonne’s campus in Lemont, Illinois, five days per week. The expected hiring range is $72,879.00–$121,465.00. Comprehensive benefits are included in the total rewards package.

Requirements

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD, typically completed within the last 0–5 years, in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with thermal, mechanical, and electrical analyses and simulations.
• Experience with thermal, mechanical, and electrical testing and related test systems.
• Knowledge of testing-system principles, components, and structures.
• Proficiency in oral and written communication and presentations at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
• Ability to work on site at Argonne’s campus in Lemont, Illinois, five days per week.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with fluids containing suspended nanoparticles.
• Knowledge of thermal, mechanical, and electrical performance and testing of fluids in high-temperature applications.
• Knowledge of experimental testing and characterization of materials.
• Experience with thermal and computational fluid dynamics frameworks such as COMSOL Multiphysics.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of advanced dielectric thermal fluids, lubricants, coatings, and high-temperature materials through modeling, numerical simulation, experimental testing, and scale-up approaches.
• Collaborate with Argonne staff to establish technical approaches for developing advanced dielectric fluids for high-power transformers.
• Perform formulation work, mechanism analyses, multiphysics modeling, and experimental validation.
• Contribute to projects involving data-center thermal management, corrosion-resistant coatings, and thermal energy-storage systems.
• Prepare technical reports, conference presentations, and journal papers.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package; specific benefits are not detailed in the posting.

What This Job Offers

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