Materials Characterization Lab Specialist

UT-Battelle; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UT-Battelle, operator of ORNL, seeks a Materials Characterization Laboratory Technical Professional in Oak Ridge, TN. The role will manage a shared lab space, maintain complex instruments, and coordinate vendor support while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

The position involves preparing samples, performing routine measurements, recording data, and supporting R&D activities as SME for several instruments. Strong communication across disciplines is essential.

Qualifications

• BS degree in chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering, geochemistry/geoscience, or another instrumentation-intensive scientific discipline
• 1-2 years of experience active participation in a laboratory in academic research or similar technical environment
• Familiarity with complex scientific instrumentation and general laboratory operations
• Experience following standard operating procedures and laboratory safety practices
• Ability to manage shifting priorities in a dynamic research environment

Responsibilities

• Maintain operational readiness of a shared interdisciplinary laboratory with ready-to-use instruments
• Manage laboratory inventory including chemicals, gases, samples, spare parts, and radioactive materials in DOE-compliant manner
• Organize incoming research materials and samples
• Maintain equipment logs, SOPs, and lab documentation
• Support SOP, ES&H processes, chemical hazard tracking, and safety requirements
• Assist scientists with experimental setup, sample prep, routine measurements, and data recording
• Record and organize experimental data and observations accurately
• Provide technical support across multiple scientific disciplines
• Contribute to technical reports, journal articles, and presentations as needed
• Troubleshoot routine lab and instrumentation issues and escalate complex problems

Skills

Strong written/verbal communication

Priority management

Team-oriented

Organizational skills

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry/physics/materials science/engineering/geoscience

Master's degree in a relevant scientific discipline

Tools

SEM/EDS

Raman spectroscopy

PPMS

GC-MS

X-ray diffraction

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction

FTIR

Atomic force microscopy

Job description

UT-Battelle, operator of ORNL, seeks a Materials Characterization Laboratory Technical Professional in Oak Ridge, TN. The role will manage a shared lab space, maintain complex instruments, and coordinate vendor support while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

The position involves preparing samples, performing routine measurements, recording data, and supporting R&D activities as SME for several instruments. Strong communication across disciplines is essential.