Analysis of Ore Materials Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Critical Minera[...]
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Qualifications
- Recent Doctoral graduates or current Doctoral candidates eligible for appointment.
- Skills in analytical chemistry, materials sciences including inorganic and organic chemistry.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a research environment.
Responsibilities
- Engage in research projects with the Research Innovation Center.
- Investigate critical minerals using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
- Develop critical skills needed to become an independent professional.
Skills
Education
Job description
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
NETL-Postdoc-2026-McIntyre-2
- An application, including academic history, work history experiences, and honors/awards
- Description of your goals, related experience, and related skills – refer to NETL's Core Competencies and ongoing projects when applicable
- Transcripts – Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
- A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
- Two educational or professional recommendations. You must provide contact information for at least two recommenders in your application. The first two recommendations received will be attached to your application for review by NETL.
All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.
If you have questions about the application process, contact NETLinfo@orau.org.
After you have submitted an application in Zintellect, you may reach out to internship.program@netl.doe.gov to request to talk with the hosting researcher if you would like additional information on the project or to express particular interest. You must have a completed application in Zintellect to receive a response.
NETL values a combination of academic success, experience, and leadership potential as demonstrated in all aspects of your application. NETL's goal is to create, maintain, and support a diverse environment that encourages creative ideas and leadership. In the words of former Lab Director Brian Anderson, "our differences make us stronger and we’re united in fostering inclusivity in all aspects of our research to drive innovation and deliver solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future." In your application, show us who you are!
To increase your chances of being selected for an appointment, we recommend:
- Tailoring your responses to align with the project. What parts of the project are most interesting to you?
- Spending sufficient time on your essay responses and your resume. Give yourself time to review your writing!
- Ensuring that everything you submit is grammatically correct and clearly expressed.
12/31/2026 12:00:00 AM Eastern Time Zone
The National Energy Technology Laboratory's record of success has been built on understanding the future of energy and the technologies required to make that future possible. We’ve long touted our success in developing the technologies that took on acid rain in the 1970s and mercury in the early 2000s.
The NETL Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program (Postdoc) is a high-intensity program designed to identify recent Doctoral graduates of high promise and to foster advanced skill development. It allows the postdoc to systematically outline career goals and helps provide the means of achieving these goals. NETL principal investigators and leads serve as mentors to postdoctoral participants during the program. This interaction affords the postdoc a unique opportunity to develop critical skills needed to become an independent professional.
- Develop skills and knowledge in their field of study
- Engage with new areas of basic and applied research
- Network with world‑class scientists
- Exchange ideas and skills with the Laboratory community
- Use state‑of‑the‑art equipment
- Contribute to answers for today's pressing scientific questions
- Collaborate with the broader scientific and technical communities
Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), this posting seeks a post‑Doctoral researcher to engage in projects with the Research Innovation Center (RIC) at NETL in the area of Critical Minerals under the mentorship of Dustin McIntyre. This project will be hosted at the NETL Morgantown, WV campus.
This project will involve the investigation of ore materials and liquids containing critical minerals using multiple laser‑induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) systems. Identification of interferences as well as strategies for overcoming these interferences will be examined. The goal of the project is to better understand the measurement and examine the best ways to apply LIBS (solids and liquid) for the prospecting, identification, and processing of critical minerals in the field and process‑control environment.
The participant will become familiar with the design, fabrication, operation, and validation of class 4 laser sensing using laser‑induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The participant will also become familiar with the integration of a LIBS system into a liquid‑process sensing and control apparatus and multi‑sensor devices for identification and measurement of critical minerals in natural solid or liquid materials.
The selected participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
- Post‑Doctoral stipend is $7486 per month.
Participants are required to submit a pre‑appointment and post‑appointment survey, as well as a reflection on their appointment experience when they renew or end their appointment. The reflection should summarize their project(s), additional activities, and overall experience. Details are provided as the appointment end date approaches.
Participants may also have the opportunity to contribute to manuscripts, journal articles, book chapters, conference presentations, posters, patents, and other publications as part of their appointment. Such achievements should also be reported to ORISE; additional details are provided after an offer has been accepted.
NETL, part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory system, is owned and operated by the DOE. NETL supports the DOE mission to advance the energy security of the United States. This is an educational opportunity offered by NETL and administered by ORISE. Participants in the program are not considered employees of NETL, DOE, the program administrator, or any other office or agency.
To be eligible, you must either:
- have received a Doctoral degree within the last five years, or be currently enrolled in a Doctoral degree program and complete the degree prior to the appointment start date.
The ideal candidate would have some, but not necessarily all, of the following:
- Experience with atomic and laser spectroscopy
- Optical design and opto‑mechanical fabrication experience
- Statistical data analysis skills
- Technical paper writing skills
- Poster presentation skills
Cinnamon
- Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
- Discipline(s):
- Chemistry and Materials Sciences
- Analytical Chemistry
- Bio‑inorganic Chemistry
- Bio‑organic Chemistry
- Biophysical Chemistry
- Chemistry (General)
- Environmental Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Sciences
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
- Theoretical Chemistry
- Communications and Graphics Design
- Computer, Information, and Data Sciences
- Earth and Geosciences
- Engineering
- Environmental and Marine Sciences
- Life Health and Medical Sciences
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Physics
- Science & Engineering‑related
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Chemistry and Materials Sciences
- Age: Must be 18 years of age.
I certify that I attend or attended a regionally accredited college or university and:
- Have earned a Doctoral degree no more than five years before the date of application.
- Will receive a Doctoral degree by the appointment start date.
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