Postdoctoral Appointee - Nanoporous Materials Researcher, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Affordable housing

Minimal traffic

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico seeks a Postdoctoral Appointee to synthesize, characterize, and test nanoporous materials with a focus on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). You will work in a collaborative R&D group and contribute to research that supports national security and technology innovation.

The role requires a PhD conferred within five years and a strong publication record. Onsite work is required, with relocation assistance provided for eligible candidates.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. conferred within five years prior to employment.
• Strong publication record with peer-reviewed work.
• Experience synthesizing and characterizing nanoporous materials.

Responsibilities

• Synthesize MOFs, zeolites, and nanoporous materials.
• Perform post-synthetic modifications and test gas adsorption and selectivity.
• Characterize materials using XRD, BET, TGA/DSC, SEM/TEM, XRF, IR/Raman, UV-vis, NMR.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and present results to managers.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Work onsite in Sandia's Organic Materials Science Department.

Skills

DOE Q security clearance

Strong publication record

Ability to work independently and in a

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering (conferred within 5 years)

Job description

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Postdoctoral Appointee - Nanoporous Materials Researcher, Onsite

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment. Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

Employees, excluding student interns, must remain in their current position for one year from their hire date before bidding on a new job. However, the hiring manager may obtain approval to consider a candidate before the one-year requirement is met via the review process. This approval must be secured prior to being interviewed for a posted position. The application of this requirement will not supersede collective bargaining agreements. Please refer to the collective bargaining labor agreements for eligibility requirements for represented bidders.

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide

Extraordinary co-workers

Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world

Career advancement and enrichment opportunities

Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)

Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly productive and collaborative team at Sandia National Laboratories.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to synthesize, characterize, and test nanoporous materials, with a focus on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). You will work in a team-oriented R&D group and have the opportunity to demonstrate initiative in research activities that support your professional development.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

Synthesize metal organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites, and other nanoporous materials

Perform post synthetic modifications and test gas adsorption and selectivity

Perform materials characterization, including powder X-ray diffraction, porosity measurements, thermal analyses (TGA/DSC), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray fluorescence, IR and Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopy

Analyze data to advance understanding of structure property relationships in the studied material systems under various testing conditions

Work in a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with experts in a wide range of experimental techniques and materials modeling approaches

Present findings at team meetings and to relevant technical managers and funding agencies

Prepare and publish research in peer-reviewed journals and present at national conferences; may include opportunities to present at international conferences

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. Relocation assistance will be provided for those that qualify.

Qualifications We Require:

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field conferred within five years prior to employment

A strong track record of scientific and/or technical achievements through publication, as evidenced by peer-reviewed journals and external presentations at appropriate scientific conferences

Research experience in synthesizing and characterizing nanoporous materials

Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q security clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

Demonstrated track record of initiating or leading small research projects or work packages, planning experiments, and delivering results with minimal supervision

Ability to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues from diverse technical backgrounds across multiple organizations or institutions

Experience contributing to multiple concurrent research programs or cross¿project collaborations

Willingness to work under principal investigator (PI) mentorship and to mentor students or junior colleagues as appropriate

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports and present results

Advanced experience in nanoporous materials synthesis (emphasis on metal organic frameworks), including familiarity with post synthetic modification and gas adsorption studies, and experience studying host guest interactions

Experience utilizing MOFs in sensor development

Advanced materials characterization skills (single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, BET porosity, thermal analyses (TGA/DSC), electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), IR and Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis, and NMR) and familiarity with glove boxes

Publication record in high impact journals or multiple first-author papers is a plus

Demonstrated commitment to laboratory safety and safe work practices

Creative problem solving and effective time management skills

About Our Team:

The postdoctoral appointee will be based in the Organic Materials Science Department and embedded with our team while directly collaborating with Dr. Tina M. Nenoff, Sandia Fellow and R&D Scientist and Engineer in Materials Science.

Dr. Tina M. Nenoff is an internationally recognized materials scientist and a member of the National Academy of Engineering who has authored over 210 peer reviewed articles, published four book chapters, been awarded 19 U.S. patents, and delivered more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences. Her research focuses on the design, synthesis, and application of nanoporous materials, including advanced zeolites and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for selective ion and gas separation; notable contributions include work on crystalline silico titanates used in remediation efforts at Fukushima Daiichi. Dr. Nenoff has served in senior science advisory roles and is widely acknowledged for mentoring and leadership across materials initiatives.

The Organic Materials Science Department researches and develops advanced materials and processing strategies for specialized national security and industrial applications. The department's strengths include polymer aging and predictive performance, synthetic organic and polymer chemistry, comprehensive thermal/mechanical/chemical characterization, and advanced manufacturing. Current R&D areas include novel encapsulant materials, tailored foams for impact mitigation, new thermoset chemistries for additive manufacturing, innovative NMR techniques for transport phenomena in polymers, studies of long-term chemical physics interdependencies and radiation effects on polymers, and measurement and prediction of dielectric and permeation behaviors. The department houses a range of synthesis and characterization capabilities (including NMR, thermal analysis, rheology, mechanical testing, and glovebox processing) and collaborates broadly across Sandia and with external partners. The department supports a strong postdoctoral community and provides mentorship and professional development for early career researchers.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance:

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

• Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
• Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities
• At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
• By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position