Postdoctoral Research Associate - heterogeneous catalysis
This job is no longer available
There are still lots of open positions. Let's find the one that's right for you.
About The Position
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will focus on exploiting reaction kinetics and mechanisms in CH4-related reactions, including reforming and coupling, using thermal and plasma excitation. This position resides in the Surface Chemistry and Catalysis (SCC) Group in the Chemical Sciences Division (CSD), Physical Science Directorate (PSD), at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). As part of our team, you will conduct research with a focus on utilizing micro-reactors and a suite of spectroscopy/microscopy measurements of reaction rates, selectivity, and surface chemistry relevant to catalytic reactions of CH4 conversion, and structure dynamics of catalysts under reaction conditions. This position is funded by a Department of Energy Basic Energy Science program - Fundamentals of Catalysis and Chemical Transformations - in the SCC group at CSD. The SCC group conducts research into surface chemistry of complex oxides, zeolites, and metals supported on oxides and catalytic reactions of CO2 and methane conversions. Primary research interests are focused on mechanisms of hydrogenation and coupling reactions with the goal of understanding the fundamental properties of oxide surfaces and metal-oxygen interactions that control selectivity in these reactions. Approaches include experimental and computational studies of kinetics and reactivity, spectroscopic identification of surface species and chemistry under in situ and operando conditions, and precision synthesis of catalysts as an approach to understanding structure-function relationships in catalysis. Arrays of techniques for characterizing physical and catalytic properties are in place or are currently being developed within the group. This research program also takes advantage of resources at ORNL, in particular neutron scattering at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), as well as X-ray synchrotron sources at user facilities. The environment at ORNL is highly collaborative and crosscutting research exists between the Chemical Sciences Division and other Divisions at ORNL.
