Post Doctorate RA - Computational Materials Science
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a Post Doctorate Research Assistant in the Materials Sciences group to perform computational materials modeling, revealing atomic-scale origins of synthesis pathways, properties, and behavior of functional materials. You will design and synthesize multi-component nanostructures for quantum information, microelectronics, and catalysis applications.
You will develop computational methods for structure-property relationships and collaborate
Qualifications
- PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
- Hands‑on expertise in ab initio modeling and molecular dynamics simulations and familiarity with a range of computational methodologies and codes demonstrated through publications.
- Proficiency in scientific coding.
- Solid grasp of the principles of statistical mechanics.
- Familiarity with atomistic foundational models and machine learning workflows for materials design.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated through publications and presentations.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
Responsibilities
- Perform computational modeling of structure, thermodynamic properties, and electronic characteristics of multi-component materials during synthesis and post-processing histories.
- Analyze effects of defects, disorder, and interfacial constraints on synthesis pathways and material properties.
- Develop testable mechanistic models of materials synthesis, behavior, and transformations under defined conditions, and validate against experimental data.
- Contribute to development of computational methodologies.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to solve technical problems.
- Support technical leadership with organized results for progress reports and lead manuscript writing.
- Present research at project meetings and conferences.
- Participate in training undergraduate and post-graduate student interns.
Skills
Education
Job description
At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Integrated Discovery Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The Integrated Discovery Sciences Directorate (IDSD) leads fundamental research across biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, materials science, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, mathematics, autonomy, and DOE national user facilities. Our vision is to accelerate scientific discovery by observing, understanding, simulating, predicting, and controlling dynamic biotic-abiotic processes and interactions within complex biological, chemical, material, and Earth systems. We intentionally connect disciplines to advance fundamental discovery science, develop transformative scientific capabilities, and address the nation's most important challenges in energy, environmental resilience, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, health, and national security.
As a Post Doctorate RA in the Materials Sciences group, you will be focused on performing computational materials modeling as part of a multi-investigator effort aiming to reveal the atomic-scale origin of interactions and mechanisms of processes that determine synthesis pathways, properties, and behavior of functional materials. You will contribute to cutting-edge research programs focused on designing and synthesizing multi-component nanostructures for applications in quantum information technologies, microelectronics, and catalytic conversions to better understand the linkages between synthesis conditions and resulting structures and between composition, strain states, and charge-density distribution in these structures and their properties. You will also be involved in the development of computational methods for materials design with a particular emphasis on structure-property relationships.
- Performing computational modeling of the structure, thermodynamic properties, and electronic characteristics of multi-component materials in the context of their synthesis and post-processing histories.
- Analyzing the effect of defects, disorder, and interfacial constraints on the synthesis pathways and the properties of materials.
- Developing testable mechanistic models of materials synthesis, behavior, and transformations in the context of conditions defined by their applications. Validating these models against experimental data.
- Contributing to the development of computational methodologies.
- Collaborating and solving technical problems with a multidisciplinary team.
- Supporting technical leadership with organized results for progress reports and lead manuscript writing.
- Presenting research at project meetings and conferences.
- Participating in training undergraduate and post-graduate student interns.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field.
- Hands‑on expertise in ab initio modeling and molecular dynamics simulations and familiarity with a range of computational methodologies and codes demonstrated through publications.
- Proficiency in scientific coding.
- Solid grasp of the principles of statistical mechanics.
- Familiarity with atomistic foundational models and machine learning workflows for materials design.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated through publications and presentations.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
Not Applicable
This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world‑class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!
At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45‑minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.
Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.
PNNL is committed to a drug‑free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.
If you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn.
As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD‑12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD‑12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.
Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.
- Employees and their families are offered medical insurance
- dental insurance
- vision insurance
- robust telehealth care options
- several mental health benefits
- free wellness coaching
- health savings account
- flexible spending accounts
- basic life insurance
- disability insurance*
- employee assistance program
- business travel insurance
- tuition assistance
- relocation
- backup childcare
- legal benefits
- supplemental parental bonding leave
- surrogacy and adoption assistance
- fertility support
- Employees are automatically enrolled in our company‑funded pension plan*
- may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*
- Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year
- and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
* Research Associates excluded.
**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.
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PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job‑related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited‑term positions which have specific pay rules.
As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.
USD $69,000.00/Yr.
USD $119,100.00/Yr.
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