Postdoc: Heterogeneous Catalysis for Sustainable Chemistry

Iowa State University; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plans

Vacation and leave plans

Onsite childcare

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Wellbeing program

WorkFlex options

Job summary

Ames National Laboratory at Iowa State University is seeking a qualified Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct research in heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemical manufacturing.

You will design, synthesize, and evaluate catalysts, develop structure-property relationships, and work within an interdisciplinary team of catalysis scientists and materials researchers to generate high-quality data for publications and collaborations.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. must be completed prior to the start date.
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field preferred.
• Experience in heterogeneous catalysis evaluation, especially high-pressure/high-temperature gas-phase or multiphasic reactions.
• Experience in polymer upcycling or catalytic depolymerization/valorization processes.
• Experience operating automated/high-throughput systems (robotic handling, parallel reactors).
• Experience with data acquisition, automation, and database integration.
• Strong background with online analytical instrumentation (GC, MS, GC-MS, HPLC/UPLC, UV/Vis) and data parsing workflows.
• Experience in materials synthesis and physical characterization (zeolites, mesoporous oxides, carbons, metal alloys).
• Ability to communicate across multidisciplinary teams and publish findings.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute catalyst synthesis and reaction studies.
• Focus on high-pressure and high-temperature gas-phase or multiphasic reactions.
• Establish rigorous reaction protocols and evaluate activity, selectivity, and stability.
• Generate reproducible experimental data and interpret results by composition, structure, and conditions.
• Communicate findings and contribute to publications and collaborations.

Skills

Catalysis evaluation

High-pressure/High-temperature gas‑ph

Automated/high-throughput systems

Data acquisition & analysis

Analytical instrumentation (GC, MS, GC

XRD/BET/chemisorption characterization

Education

PhD in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

PhD completed before start date

Tools

GC

MS

HPLC/UPLC

Job description

Ames National Laboratory at Iowa State University is seeking a qualified Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct research in heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemical manufacturing.

You will design, synthesize, and evaluate catalysts, develop structure-property relationships, and work within an interdisciplinary team of catalysis scientists and materials researchers to generate high-quality data for publications and collaborations.