Postdoctoral Research Associate

UMass Lowell • Lowell, MA

30d • Onsite

About The Position

The Integrated Nuclear Security and Safeguards Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to 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 role involves research at the intersection of nuclear chemical engineering, laboratory experimentation, and computational process modeling, focusing on developing improved methods for uranium purification and chemical processing. Key research areas include the chemistry and engineering of lanthanide and actinide dissolution, separations, purification, and conversion processes, particularly for pre-irradiated uranium materials. The project combines laboratory investigations with computational modeling to enhance the understanding of chemical process performance and to support the creation of predictive tools for front-end fuel cycle applications. Depending on the candidate's background, responsibilities may lean towards experimental research, computational modeling, or a blend of both. The successful candidate will help expand the laboratory's capabilities in these areas while collaborating with faculty and students. This position offers a significant opportunity to work with faculty, students, and researchers at U.S. national laboratories such as 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 position within the Grants & Contracts union.

What This Job Offers

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