Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0005158)

Johns Hopkins University; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 82,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, invites applications for a PREP Research Associate in the National Institute of Standards and Technology PREP program. The role supports Postdoctoral Researcher on Civil Infrastructure Polymer Durability, focusing on accelerated weathering of polymers used in building envelopes and coatings.

The successful candidate will conduct SPHERE-based UV weathering experiments, collect property data, help develop testing methods, and collaborate

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will possess a deep background in materials science, strictly focused on the fundamental degradation of polymers in outdoor service environments.
• A Ph.D. degree in Materials or Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, or a related polymer science field.
• Demonstrated hands-on laboratory experience with at least four of the following techniques: tensile tests, DMA, nanoindentation, DSC, TGA, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, color and gloss tests, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared thermography, pull-off tests, three-point bending tests, moisture absorption tests.
• Experience evaluating long-term degradation of polymeric materials and/or the use of accelerated weathering techniques in prior research efforts.
• Experience using analysis software (e.g., Excel, Origin, SolidWorks).
• Experience using R or Python for database development and data analysis is a plus.
• Ability to work with real-time event data at-scale.
• Ability to develop prototypes of tools needed to analyze data.
• A strong record of scientific productivity, evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Responsibilities

• Review literature and sample degradation results from SPHERE and outdoor weathering experiments.
• Help identify a select few polymeric infrastructure materials for durability assessment that will have a high impact for stakeholders.
• Conduct accelerated weathering exposure on the NIST SPHERE and on other weathering devices, as appropriate.
• Characterize the chemical, optical, and mechanical property changes of weathered infrastructure polymer samples using techniques such as ATR-FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis, color and gloss tests, DSC, TGA, pull-off testing, three-point bending tests, moisture absorption tests, infrared thermography, and microscopy.
• Develop test configurations and test methods to measure performance changes of a material within a given infrastructure application.
• Maintain the NIST SPHERE in collaboration with NIST technicians: this includes collecting, recording, and analyzing irradiance data.
• Construct a UV-degradation database for correlating materials-structure-performance properties. Contribute to a NIST SPHERE metadata database.
• Present results within the group and other related meetings, write protocols, technical reports, and prepare manuscripts for high impact, peer-reviewed publications.
• Ensure that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived.

Skills

Polymer science

Weathering tests

SPHERE device

Materials characterization

Data analysis (Python/R)

Education

PhD in Materials

Tools

Excel

Origin

SolidWorks

Python

R

Job description

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first researchuniversity and home to nine world-class academic divisions workingtogether as one university.

Salary

$82,000 - $89,000

Johns Hopkins University: Whiting School of Engineering: Office ofResearch and Translation

Description

PREP Research Associate

Durability Assessment of Polymeric Materials Used in CivilInfrastructure Applications

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST)Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizesthat its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers atacademic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest andthus requires that such institutions be the recipients of a PREPaward. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range ofbackgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employeesin this position will perform technical work that underpins thescientific research of the collaboration.

Research Title:

Postdoctoral Researcher on Civil Infrastructure PolymerDurability

The work will entail:

The PREP Researcher will conduct laboratory accelerating weatheringexposure experiments on various polymer systems used ininfrastructure applications, which will include building envelopematerials, protective coatings, crack repair materials, and fiberreinforced polymer composite (FRP) retrofits. The PREP Researcherwill help to identify select polymeric infrastructure materials inwidespread use based on current limitations of these materials,identified research gaps, and identified durability issues.Accelerated weathering experiments will primarily take place on thestate-of-the-art NIST SPHERE (Simulated Photodegradation via HighEnergy Radiant Exposure) device which allows precise control oftemperature and relative humidity while exposing samples to highlyuniform ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Other weathering exposureexperiments in humidity chambers, a freeze/thaw chamber, acorrosion chamber, commercial UV-weathering devices, or at twooutdoor weathering fields may be conducted. The PREP researcherwill collect material property change data resulting fromdegradation and develop test configurations and methods to measureperformance changes of an infrastructure material with respect toits given application (e.g., increased water penetration of abuilding envelope material). Alongside structural engineers,weathering data criteria will be collaboratively incorporated intodesign equations and structural models.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Review literature and sample degradation results from previousSPHERE and outdoor weathering experiments.
• Help identify a select few polymeric infrastructure materials fordurability assessment that will have a high impact forstakeholders. Identification efforts should involve literaturereviews, stakeholder engagement, and market research. Buildingenvelope materials will be highest priority.
• Conduct accelerated weathering exposure on the NIST SPHERE and onother weathering devices, as appropriate.
• Characterize the chemical, optical, and mechanical propertychanges of weathered infrastructure polymer samples usingtechniques such as ATR-FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis, color and gloss tests, DSC, TGA, pull-off testing, three-point bending tests, moisture absorption tests, infrared thermography, andmicroscopy.
• Develop test configurations and test methods to measureperformance changes of a material within a given infrastructureapplication. This may include water vapor transmission tests,corrosion tests, tensile tests, impact and tear resistance tests,etc.
• Maintain the NIST SPHERE in collaboration with NIST technicians:this includes collecting, recording, and analyzing irradiancedata.
• Construct a UV-degradation database for correlatingmaterials-structure-performance properties. Contribute to a NISTSPHERE metadata database.
• Present results within the group and other related meetings,write protocols, technical reports, and prepare manuscripts forhigh impact, peer-reviewed publications.
• Ensure that results, protocols, software, and documentation havebeen archived.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a deep background in materialsscience, strictly focused on the fundamental degradation ofpolymers in outdoor service environments. A Ph.D. degree inMaterials or Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, or a related polymer sciencefield.

• Demonstrated hands-on laboratory experience with at least four ofthe following techniques: tensile tests, DMA, nanoindentation, DSC,TGA, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy,color and gloss tests, optical microscopy, scanning electronmicroscopy, infrared thermography, pull-off tests, three-pointbending tests, moisture absorption tests.
• Experience evaluating long-term degradation of polymericmaterials and/or the use of accelerated weathering techniques inprior research efforts.
• Experience using analysis software (e.g., Excel, Origin,SolidWorks).
• Experience using R or Python for database development and dataanalysis is a plus.
• Ability to work with real-time event data at-scale.
• Ability to develop prototypes of tools needed to analyzedata.
• A strong record of scientific productivity, evidenced bypublications in peer-reviewed journals.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. §272(b) and (c) Purpose: The National Institute for Standards andTechnology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research ExperienceProgram (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratoryexperience and financial assistance to undergraduates,post-bachelor’s degree holders, graduate students, master’s degreeholders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratoriesand participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborativeresearch relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of highereducation

in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to)biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science,engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscalescience, neutron science, physical science, physics, andstatistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitateadministrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to performthe requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility,and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of thisinformation is also subject to all the published routine uses asidentified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1:NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When yousubmit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NISTto use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum