Postdoctoral Associate

Details • Blacksburg, VA

3d

About The Position

The Nuclear Materials and Fuel Cycle Center (NMFC) at Virginia Tech seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate to lead and support projects on corrosion and materials performance in advanced nuclear reactor environments. Under the mentorship of the Center Director/PI, the postdoc will develop and apply novel experimental methods, advanced characterization techniques, and predictive modeling approaches to understand corrosion mechanisms and coolant/fuel chemistry in extreme conditions. The successful candidate will oversee corrosion-focused projects sponsored by industry and/or the U.S. Department of Energy, collaborate with external partners, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students. This role is designed to provide professional growth toward an independent research career, with opportunities to publish, contribute to proposals, and gain experience in laboratory and project management. For more information, please visit: https://nmfc.me.vt.edu/.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Proven organizational and time-management abilities, as shown by on-time completion of degree milestones, funded project deliverables, or successful management of overlapping deadlines.
• Ability to work in laboratory environments with exposure to hazardous materials, requiring compliance with safety training and PPE protocols.
• Written communication skills demonstrated by at least one peer-reviewed publication, technical report, or grant application.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in materials characterization methods, with hands-on experience in at least two techniques (e.g., SEM, XPS, ICP, XRD, TEM, or similar) evidenced by data collection or analysis in publications/reports.
• Knowledge of corrosion science, demonstrated by coursework, thesis/dissertation chapters, or research publications.
• Project management ability demonstrated by planning, tracking, and reporting progress on a research project with defined deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support projects on corrosion and materials performance in advanced nuclear reactor environments.
• Develop and apply novel experimental methods, advanced characterization techniques, and predictive modeling approaches to understand corrosion mechanisms and coolant/fuel chemistry in extreme conditions.
• Oversee corrosion-focused projects sponsored by industry and/or the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Collaborate with external partners.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
• Publish research findings.
• Contribute to proposals.
• Gain experience in laboratory and project management.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees