JBEI Chemical Engineering Pretreatment Postdoctoral Scientist (Onsite)

Sandia National Laboratories; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research facility in California is seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist to work on innovative technologies for lignocellulosic biofuels. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and expertise in biomass pretreatment and separation techniques. Responsibilities include designing pretreatment solvents, optimizing efficiency, and integrating technologies into bioenergy processes. This position offers a chance to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary environment with national labs and industry experts.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated record of technical accomplishments (e.g., publications, presentations).
• Ability to work onsite due to the nature of the work.

Responsibilities

• Design and screen lignocellulosic pretreatment solvents.
• Conduct optimization campaigns to increase deconstruction efficiency.
• Demonstrate recycle and reuse of pretreatment solvents.
• Partner with teams to integrate technologies into conversion processes.
• Participate in laboratory management and mentoring student interns.
• Present results at project meetings and conferences.

Skills

Biomass pretreatment

Separation techniques

Analytical skills

Creative research

Education

PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field

Tools

2D NMR

GC-MS

LC-MS

GPC

NIR

FTIR

Job description

Overview

What Your Job Will Be Like : Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to do important and creative research? Sandia California’s Biomanufacturing and Biomaterials department is seeking a dedicated and hardworking Postdoctoral Scientist with expertise in chemistry and chemical engineering to join the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) Pretreatment Optimization and Process Integration team to develop novel technologies for the efficient feedstock-agnostic deconstruction of lignocellulose into fermentable carbon.

We are currently developing pretreatment technologies using novel solvents (ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents and molecular solvents). The selected candidate will continue these efforts and will focus on several R&D areas, including : (1) optimizing pretreatment technologies to maximize deconstruction and conversion of native and engineered feedstocks, (2) demonstrating high efficiency pretreatment solvent recycling, and (3) developing methods to efficiently extract and fractionate lignin from engineered woods and grasses for downstream processing in collaboration with other JBEI teams. The candidate may also conduct limited work on hydrolysate fermentation and biocompatibility. We are seeking an individual with proficiency in biomass pretreatment and related separations and analytics and who can work with biochemists and microbiologists to explore integration of biomass pretreatment and deconstruction with bioconversion. This will be a multi-disciplinary effort, with opportunities to work with a wide range of experts in national labs and industry to conduct state-of-the-art R&D in lignocellulosic biofuels.

Responsibilities

• Design and screen lignocellulosic pretreatment solvents and conduct lignocellulose analytics;
• Conduct optimization campaigns to increase deconstruction efficiency on native and engineered woods and grasses;
• Demonstrate recycle and reuse of pretreatment solvents using membrane-based techniques;
• Partner with JBEI teams to integrate pretreatment technologies into a feedstocks-to-fuels conversion process;
• Participate in laboratory management and mentoring student interns;
• Present results at project meetings and conferences.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Qualifications We Require

• PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Fermentation, or a closely-related relevant field;
• Demonstrated record of technical accomplishments (e.g., publications in high-impact scientific journals, presentations at national / international conferences).

Qualifications We Desire

• Proven experience with biomass pretreatment and separations;
• Experience with process development and optimization;
• Experience with solvent recovery and recycle through evaporative or membrane technologies;
• Strong analytical characterization background (2D NMR, GC-MS, LC-MS, GPC, NIR, FTIR);
• Handling high pressure reactors and in-line process monitoring;
• Experience with fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates;
• Experience in research with set timelines;
• Ability to conduct creative, independent research;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.