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 postdoc researchers come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations, and 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 understanding the complex systems and phenomena vital to the nation's energy and environmental resources as part of the Lab’s Physical Sciences Division (PSD) and in close partnership with the Energy and Environment Directorate (EED).

As a fellow in the Geochemistry group, you will join a talented, multi-investigator team to work on aluminum mineral synthesis, aggregation, and dissolution. The environmental cleanup project at the U.S. Department Office of Environmental Management of Energy’s Hanford site, located in Washington state, is one of the largest projects in history. In this endeavor, dealing with approximately 200 million liters of mixed radioactive and chemical waste has emerged as a monumental challenge for Hanford. Of the 177 subterranean storage tanks, 67 are suspected to have suffered leaks, resulting in contaminated groundwater. Aluminum (Al), introduced either as an aluminum nitrate during the process or as part of the fuel casing, constitutes a significant component of Hanford tank waste. Al primarily exists in waste sludge as the mineral phases gibbsite and boehmite. This tank waste sludge will be subjected to washing and alkaline leaching to solubilize the Al so it can be removed from the tanks for ultimate transformation into a stable, glass product. However, the removal of Al minerals from the tank waste was more challenging than anticipated. This can be attributed to the complex chemical composition of the waste tanks and the aggregation of Al minerals. Your role will focus on developing techniques to synthesize pure and trace metal doped/adsorbed Al minerals and control the aggregation of these as-synthesize Al minerals, and then explore the effects of gamma and UV irradiation and aggregation on Al mineral dissolution. You will utilize advanced characterization capabilities, such as Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-Ray scattering (SXAS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), to investigate the Al mineral crystal growth, aggregation, and dissolution mechanisms. The results from this work are essential to the Office of Environmental Management’s mission to safely clean up the environmental legacy resulting from decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research.

The Ideal Candidate:

MSIPP is funded by the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM). DOE-EM is working to cleanup legacy radioactive waste found in soil, groundwater, and underground storage tanks. All research aligns with DOE-EM’s mission to safely immobilize and cleanup environmental legacy waste, focusing on cleanup of the Hanford Site which is one of the most complex DOE sites due to hazardous comingled contaminates. For more information, go to https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-management-internship.

If you are ready to test your talents and training in Geochemistry, Environmental Science, Materials, Chemical Engineering, and/or Chemistry and hone your skills as a Postdoc researcher at a national laboratory widely recognized for its work in the physical sciences and environmental science, we want to connect with you. The ideal person has an interest in advancing measurement approaches and applying them to complex problems.

Details are below; you do not need to meet all of the preferred qualifications to be considered.

What you will do:

• Conduct independent research and work on team assignments
• Mineral synthesis
• Design novel approaches to study the Al mineral crystal growth, aggregation, and dissolution mechanisms
• Strong background in various in situ and ex situ techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-Ray scattering (SXAS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM)
• Preferred skills: synchrotron-based techniques and radiochemistry
• Interact, communicate, and problem solve with a diverse team of research staff within the PCSD, EED, EMSL, and across PNNL
• Contribute as a team member to support publications and reports led by other researchers
• Lead manuscript development and maintain a strong overall publication record in the peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Present research at technical conferences and project/program review meetings
• Participate in the development of research proposals

To qualify you must have attended a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). MSIs are institutions of higher education enrolling populations with significant percentages of undergraduate minority students. Don’t know if your school qualifies? Ask us! Please email em.internships@pnnl.gov to find out more.

****HOW TO APPLY****

Upload Resume or CV in “Resume” section only (note: If applying to multiple positions, the most recent resume uploaded will be used for all positions an applicant applies to).

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
• Candidate must have graduated from a minority serving institution (MSI) for either undergraduate or graduate degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in Geochemistry, Environmental Science, Materials, Chemical Engineering, and/or Chemistry.
• A Postdoc position is immediately available to study the Al mineral crystal growth, aggregation, and dissolution mechanisms with a strong emphasis on the use of advanced resources at PNNL and associated DOE user facilities.
• In-depth knowledge, practical experience, and a good publication record in mineral synthesis, crystal growth, aggregation, and dissolution. In addition, the candidate should possess functional knowledge of various complementary materials characterization methods such as Raman, XRD, UV-vis, DLS, SXAS, TEM, SEM, AFM, and/or synchrotron-based techniques.
• A background in one or more of the following research areas, involving material synthesis, mineralization, particle aggregation, mineral dissolution, and radiochemistry.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• The Postdoc will work in collaboration with a diverse group of scientists and technical staff across the Lab, and must be able to work closely and communicate effectively with experimentalist and computational modeling colleagues. The ability to adapt, refine, or innovate experimental tools as needed.
• Be able to recognize abnormal operating conditions, correct and report to the supervisor and warranty provider in a timely and responsible manner.
• Provide direct support and field oversight of research activities involving nanoparticle synthesis and characterization; Supervise and coordinate work from multiple projects. Keep accurate and legible operating records associated with assigned job.

The candidate must be able to achieve DOE Radiological Worker II qualification.

Not applicable

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

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.

Our laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment dedicated to solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. In support of this commitment, we encourage people of all racial/ethnic identities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.

PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.

If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.

In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

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.

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, supplemental parental bonding leave**, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401k savings plan. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

* Research Associates excluded.

**Once eligibility requirements are met.

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PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.