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Postdoctoral Researcher - Lignin Depolymerization and Hydrodeoxygenation for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

National Renewable Energy Lab
Golden, CO Full Time
POSTED ON 2/14/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/4/2025

Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher – Lignin Depolymerization and Hydrodeoxygenation for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week

Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world’s energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems. We are trusted clean energy leaders, developing cost-saving solutions that make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities.

At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives : NREL's Mission and Vision () .

Job Description

A postdoctoral researcher role is available in NREL’s Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center. The successful candidate will investigate depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of lignin feedstocks to maximize yields of promising aromatic blendstocks for use in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Candidates will collaborate with a large, multi-disciplinary team, including with an industry partner for scale-up.

Selected relevant journal publications are given below :

Stone et al., Joule 2022

Bartling et al, Energy and Environmental Science 2021

Jang et al, Joule 2022

The successful candidate will be able to :

  • Work safely and independently in a laboratory setting
  • Learn new techniques and protocols
  • Plan and execute research in collaboration with other researchers
  • Perform reductive catalysis on lignin substrates, reaction engineering, and catalyst and process design
  • Communicate scientific results effectively, both in written and oral formats
  • Author peer-reviewed publications, and
  • Work effectively in a large, multidisciplinary team of engineers and chemists.

Basic Qualifications

Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

  • Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
  • Additional Required Qualifications

  • Troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
  • Ability to deliver high-quality results within aggressive timelines
  • Strong record of quality peer-reviewed publications
  • Strong safety record and ability to follow complex standard operating procedures
  • Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in heterogeneous catalysis
  • Expertise in reaction engineering
  • Experience with biomass
  • Analytical chemistry experience using GC-FID
  • Job Application Submission Window

    The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

    Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

    Job Profile : Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range : $74,900 - $123,600

    NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

    Benefits Summary

    Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance

  • pension benefits
  • 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
  • life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
  • Based on eligibility rules
  • Badging Requirement

    NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

    Drug Free Workplace

    NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

    If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

    Submission Guidelines

    Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

    EEO Policy

    NREL is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin / ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

    EEO is the Law () | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination () | Reasonable Accommodations ()

    E -Verify www.dhs.gov / E-Verify For information about right to work, click here () for English or here () for Spanish.

    E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States.

    NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on-site, off-site, or via telephone or videoconference. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NREL by the Department of Energy (DOE).

    Drug Free Workplace

    NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

    If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

    Please review the information on our Hiring Process () website before you create an account and apply for a job. We also hope you will learn more about NREL () , visit our Careers site () , and continue to search for job opportunities () at the lab.

    Salary : $74,900 - $123,600

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