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Post Doctorate RA - Materials Sciences – Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Materials

The Opportunity: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to collaboration and work–life balance. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven postdocs come to PNNL to work on significant scientific challenges, innovate and achieve meaningful outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

Contribute to PNNL’s goals in Chemical and Materials Sciences as part of the Laboratory’s Physical Sciences Division (PSD). As a postdoctoral researcher in the Materials Sciences group, you will join a hardworking, multi-investigator team to synthesize and characterize organic (e.g., crown ethers, supramolecular hosts, etc), inorganic (MnO2, TiO2, clays), and hybrid porous materials (MOFs, COFs, etc) for extraction of critical minerals, such as Li, Cs, and rare earths, from water. You will quantify Li adsorption kinetics, including adsorption capacity, distribution coefficient, and selectivity in presence of competing cations. You will also work on elucidating mechanisms of Li binding using a combination of ex-situ and in-situ characterization techniques.

The Ideal Candidate: If you are ready to test your talents and training and hone your skills at a national laboratory widely recognized for its work in the physical sciences, we want to connect with you! PNNL is committed to fostering a work environment that promotes inclusion, diversity, equity and accountability. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply; you do not need to meet all of the preferred qualifications to be considered.

What you will do:
  • Design and synthesize organic, inorganic, and hybrid porous materials.
  • Characterize the structure using a range of experimental techniques, including x-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and surface area measurements.
  • Perform Lithium binding and release experiments using batch and flow mode, characterize using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), analyze and interpret corresponding data.
  • Grow synthesized Li selective sorbents on a magnetic core to prepare core shell particles and characterization using microscopy scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • Lead manuscript development and maintain a strong overall publication record in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
  • Disseminate the research results via participation in research conferences.
  • Interact, communicate, coordinate, and problem solve with a multidisciplinary team of researchers within the Material Sciences group, PSD, and across PNNL.

Selected publications related to this position:
Aguila, B. et. al., Chem. Commun., 52 , 5940-5942, 2016 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CC00843G

About PNNL:
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or 3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Minimum Qualifications
Candidates must have received a PhD degree within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications
(not all need to be met):
  • Proven background in supramolecular chemistry and materials characterization.
  • Detailed knowledge of and hands-on experience with spectroscopic and microscopic materials characterization methods, such as NMR, XRD, ICP-OES, FTIR, SEM, and TEM.
  • The ability to adapt, refine, or innovate experimental tools based on research needs.
  • Ability to work independently and take initiative in the completion of tasks important to the projects. These include preparation of first drafts of papers for peer-reviewed journals, technical presentations at scientific conferences.
  • Strong analytical skills.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience of collaborating with a diverse group of scientists and technical staff.

Preferred Education/Credential:
  • Ph.D. in Chemistry, polymer science, materials science or related field
  • Training and aptitude in materials synthesis and characterization

Equal Employment Opportunity
Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. All BMI staff must be able to demonstrate the legal right to work in the United States. BMI is an E-Verify employer. Learn more at jobs.pnnl.gov.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via https://jobs.pnnl.gov/help.stm

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.