RA - XSD - Ponsot, Andre - 5.29.26

Argonne National Laboratory•Lemont, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This project focuses on controlling material properties during laser processing by manipulating laser beam shaping and process parameters. The goal is to achieve a greater understanding of phase and microstructure development in relation to heat input from a laser. Experiments will be conducted at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Lab to test phase development and correlate solidification rates to microstructure development in bulk and powder systems. This involves analyzing the effects of various laser powers, shapes, and scan patterns on phase and microstructure development using in-situ synchrotron diffraction. The project will also involve assisting with the installation of a new nLight laser to enable testing with various Bessel function beam shapes. Ultimately, the project aims to create site-specific zones with controlled microstructures and phases, leading to tailored bulk parts with vectorized material properties and potentially reducing the need for post-processing.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies at an accredited institution.
Graduated from an accredited institution within the past 3 months; or Actively enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited institution.
Must be 18 years or older at the time the appointment begins.
Must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Must complete a satisfactory background check.
All students remain subject to applicable drug testing policies.

Responsibilities

Conduct fundamental experiments to test phase development and correlate solidification rates to microstructure development.
Utilize in-situ synchrotron diffraction to analyze phase development during laser processing.
Correlate amorphous readings from synchrotron in-situ analysis to solidification rate.
Assist with the installation of a recently acquired nLight laser.
Test various laser powers, shapes, and scan patterns to understand their effects on phase and microstructure development.
Toggle various Bessel function beam shapes using the nLight laser.
Work to control multilayer systems to create tailored bulk parts.