Postdoctoral Appointee – Chemical Recycling of Polymers

Argonne National Laboratory; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 73,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Equal employment opportunity employer

Supportive research environment

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, IL is seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to join the Polymer Upcycling Team. The role involves designing and synthesizing recyclable polymers, evaluating their thermomechanical properties, and exploring chemical recycling and organometallic catalysis.

You will work with a diverse team to uncover reaction mechanisms and publish your findings. This early-career position emphasizes hands-on synthesis, analytical techniques such as GPC, rheology, and NMR, and

Qualifications

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (0–5 years) in Polymer Science, Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry or related field.
• Experience with synthesis and characterization of highly air-sensitive transition metal complexes.
• Experience in synthesis of polymeric materials.
• Strong understanding of kinetics and thermodynamics in catalysis.
• Ability to design, conduct, and interpret mechanistic experiments.

Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, and characterize new recyclable polymers.
• Evaluate thermomechanical properties of polymeric materials.
• Research chemical recycling processes and organometallic catalysis.
• Perform mechanistic studies using reaction kinetics and related techniques.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary research team and communicate findings clearly.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer characterization

Kinetics

Thermodynamics

Air-sensitive complexes

Education

PhD in Polymer Science or Organic/Organometallic Chemistry

Tools

GPC

Rheology

NMR spectroscopy

Job description

The Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory welcomes applications for a Postdoctoral Appointee to join our Polymer Upcycling Team. In this role, you will contribute to a collaborative, multidisciplinary research program focused on the chemical recycling of polymers and organometallic catalysis. You will work alongside scientists with diverse expertise to design, synthesize, and characterize new recyclable polymer systems, while evaluating their thermomechanical properties. The position also offers the opportunity to investigate catalytic reaction mechanisms through reaction kinetics and complementary physical organic and inorganic chemistry approaches. This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career scientist who is passionate about sustainable materials, catalysis, and fundamental mechanistic research.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, and characterize new recyclable polymers
• Evaluate the thermomechanical properties of polymeric materials
• Conduct research on chemical recycling processes and organometallic catalysis
• Perform mechanistic studies using reaction kinetics analysis and related physical organic and inorganic techniques
• Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary research team
• Communicate research findings clearly through written reports, presentations, and publications

Position Requirements

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (within the last 0-5 years) in field of Polymer Science, Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, or a closely related field
• Experience in scientific application knowledge and practical laboratory experience
• Demonstrated experience in the synthesis and characterization of highly air-sensitive transition metal complexes
• Experience in the synthesis of polymeric materials
• Strong understanding of kinetics and thermodynamics as they relate to catalysis
• Experience designing, conducting, and interpreting experiments to investigate catalytic reaction mechanisms
• Proficiency in written and verbal scientific communication
• Hands-on experience with analytical techniques such as gel permeation chromatography (GPC), rheology, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

Job Family Postdoctoral

Job Profile Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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