R&D Associate Staff Member- Electrochemistry or Materials Chemistry

Requisition Id 4542 

Overview

The Emerging Isotopes Research Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking two highly motivated early career scientists at the Associate Scientist rank in the areas of electrochemistry and materials chemistry. The Emerging Isotopes Research Group is responsible for the development and evaluation of advanced techniques for the efficient and cost-effective production of radioisotopes. The position will be in the Radioisotope Research & Development Section within the Radioisotope Science and Technology Division (RSTD). RSTD is active in actinide science, delivering innovations in isotope production technology that enable ORNL to efficiently produce radioisotopes for science, medicine, industry, and security applications.

ORNL has nuclear, radiological, and scientific facilities and highly specialized equipment that serve as unique resources for radioisotope R&D. These resources include the High Flux Isotope Reactor (the world’s highest neutron flux reactor; https://neutrons.ornl.gov/hfir), the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=ETXGSp5KE9X) and other hot cell facilities which are used to produce an array of radioisotopes (e.g. Cf-252, Pu-238, Ni-63, Ac-227) for industrial and medical applications and scientific discovery (e.g., super-heavy elements).  These internationally renowned facilities, combined with ORNL’s high-caliber, professional, and highly engaged work force create a research environment with unmatched potential for impact and innovation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities 

We are seeking highly motivated early-career researchers in electrochemistry and materials chemistry that will develop and perform independent R&D on an ongoing basis in the area broadly defined as radioisotope science in support of radioisotope production. Responsibilities for this position include working closely with project teams to create, evaluate, and publish novel research ideas, supervise and mentor students and postdoctoral researchers, and technicians, and collaborate with our partners and sponsors. Successful candidates will: 

• Contribute to internationally recognized programs surrounding radioisotope science.
• Disseminate scientific results via peer-reviewed manuscripts to the broader radioisotope, electrochemistry, and materials science community.
• Secure external funding to advance novel ideas in the areas of electrochemistry and/or materials chemistry with respect to radioisotope science.
• Participate in leadership roles within national societies representing ORNL with distinction.

Basic Qualifications

• Requires a PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field and at least two years of relevant research experience beyond the PhD.
• A well-established track record of research in an area of electrochemistry or materials chemistry.
• Demonstrated experience in R&D projects through peer-reviewed publications and/or patents.
• This position may also require access to technology and information that is subject to export control requirements and potentially classified information.  Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license and be capable of obtaining a Q-clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research in electrochemistry and/or materials chemistry relevant to f-element science, chemical separations, or radioisotope production.
• Research in the application of advanced separations applied to inorganic and/or radiological systems.
• Experience with computational modeling and simulation to understand observed phenomena.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.