Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of Massachusetts • Lowell, MA

8d • $60,000 - $65,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Integrated Nuclear Security and Safeguards Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support a U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA)-funded research initiative. This initiative aims to advance the scientific understanding of front-end uranium fuel cycle processes. The successful candidate will conduct research at the intersection of nuclear chemical engineering, laboratory experimentation, and computational process modeling. Responsibilities include contributing to the development of improved approaches for uranium purification and chemical processing, focusing on the chemistry and engineering of lanthanide and actinide dissolution, separations, purification, and conversion processes relevant to pre-irradiated uranium materials. The project integrates laboratory investigations with computational modeling to enhance understanding of chemical process performance and support the development of predictive tools for front-end fuel cycle applications. Depending on the candidate's background, responsibilities may emphasize experimental research, computational modeling, or a combination of both. The role involves expanding the laboratory's capabilities in these areas while collaborating closely with faculty and students. This position offers an opportunity to collaborate with faculty, students, and researchers at U.S. national laboratories, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and to contribute to training future nuclear chemical engineers and fuel cycle scientists.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Radiochemistry, or a closely related field (degree must be completed by appointment start).
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more areas of the nuclear fuel cycle, particularly lanthanides and actinides dissolution, separations, or conversion chemistry.
• Experience with computational modeling and simulation of chemical or nuclear systems or hands-on laboratory skills applicable to chemical process development, validation, and safety.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports, develop and present course modules and peer-reviewed publications.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with flowsheet modeling or system-level process integration (e.g., Aspen Plus, gPROMS, COMSOL, custom Python/Matlab frameworks).
• Familiarity with uncertainty quantification/sensitivity analysis methods.
• Prior work with DOE laboratories or collaborative research projects in nuclear chemical engineering experiments.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and mentor students in research settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and development on lanthanides and actinides enrichment chemistries, including dissolution, separations, and conversion processes, with an emphasis on pre-irradiated uranium processing.
• Develop, implement, and validate computational models of lanthanides and actinides chemical processes and integrated flowsheets, including effluent and emission signatures.
• Design and perform laboratory experiments that support model development and process validation.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students engaged in the project’s educational mission.
• Contribute to technical progress reports, publications, and presentations for DOE/NNSA and scientific audiences.

Benefits

• Full-time
• Benefited

What This Job Offers

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