Postdoc: Synthesis & Chelation for Isotope Separations

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee amenities on-site fitness

Banking

Cafeteria facilities

Prescription Drug Plan

Dental Plan

Vision Plan

401(k) Retirement Plan

Contributory Pension Plan

Life Insurance

Disability Benefits

Generous Vacation and Holidays

Parental Leave

Legal Insurance with Identity Theft

Employee Assistance Plan

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Accounts

Wellness Programs

Educational Assistance

Relocation Assistance

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Synthesis and (Radio)Chemical Separations. The role focuses on developing novel chelators for selective binding of rare earth and related elements, testing in solid-liquid and liquid-liquid separations, and delivering high-impact results with a multidisciplinary team.

You will operate in a facility with advanced synthetic and analytical capabilities and collaborate across chemistry disciplines while contributing to

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry or a related discipline completed within the last five years.
• Strong background in multi-step synthesis of chelators or organic molecules; gram-scale isolation/purification; and characterization methods (NMR, UV-vis, FT-IR, MS).
• Experience with radiochemistry is preferred and highly valued.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to work independently and in teams.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on synthesis and characterization of novel organic compounds.
• Characterize molecular receptors using TLC, HPLC, potentiometric titrimetry, UV-Vis, NMR, and X-ray diffraction.
• Execute solid-liquid and liquid-liquid separations and analyze results with ICP-OES/ICP-MS.
• Participate in project planning and execution; present results at meetings and conferences.
• Publish results in peer‑reviewed journals and ensure compliance with safety and quality programs.
• Contribute to ORNL’s mission with integrity, teamwork, and service values.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Molecular design

Analytical characterization

NMR spectroscopy

UV-Vis spectroscopy

Mass spectrometry

HPLC

X-ray crystallography

Coordination chemistry

Orthogonal separations

Education

PhD in chemistry

Tools

TLC

Potentiometric titrimetry

ICP-OES

ICP-MS

Job description

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Synthesis and (Radio)Chemical Separations. The role focuses on developing novel chelators for selective binding of rare earth and related elements, testing in solid-liquid and liquid-liquid separations, and delivering high-impact results with a multidisciplinary team.

You will operate in a facility with advanced synthetic and analytical capabilities and collaborate across chemistry disciplines while contributing to