Postdoctoral Research Associate - Ames National Laboratory

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

Position Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Ames National Laboratory

Appointment Type

Post Doc/Trainee

Job Description

Ames National Laboratory is seeking a qualified Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct research in heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemical manufacturing. The research will focus on the design, synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of catalysts and on developing structure-property-performance relationships that guide catalyst discovery and optimization.

The candidate will plan and execute catalyst synthesis and reaction studies, with emphasis on high-pressure and high-temperature gas-phase or multiphasic reactions. Responsibilities will include establishing rigorous reaction protocols, evaluating catalyst activity, selectivity, and stability, and applying appropriate analytical and materials-characterization techniques.

The postdoc will work as part of a highly interdisciplinary team of catalysis scientists and materials researchers. The candidate will generate high-quality, reproducible experimental data; interpret results in the context of catalyst composition, structure, and reaction conditions; communicate findings effectively; and contribute to publications, presentations, and collaborative research activities.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. must be completed prior to the start date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in heterogeneous catalysis evaluation, specifically in high-pressure and high-temperature gas-phase or multiphasic reactions.
• Experience in polymer upcycling, plastic waste conversion, or related catalytic depolymerization and valorization processes.
• Demonstrated experience operating, optimizing, or developing automated or high-throughput experimental systems (e.g., robotic solid/liquid handling, parallel reactor platforms).
• Experience with automated process control, data acquisition, and database integration software.
• Strong background in operating online analytical instrumentation (e.g., Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, GC-MS, HPLC/UPLC, UV/Vis) and utilizing workflows or scripts for automated data parsing and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in materials synthesis (including nanostructured porous materials such as zeolites, mesoporous oxides, carbons, or metal/metal alloys) and physical characterization techniques (such as XRD, BET, and chemisorption).
• Enthusiasm for highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research and the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse audience of materials modelers, machine learning specialists, and automation engineers.

Department/Program & College Description

Would you like to work for a National Laboratory that conducts world-renowned research? Would you enjoy working on a beautiful university campus? Can you imagine yourself in a mid-sized location that regularly ranks as one of the U.S. Best Places to Live? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider a career with Ames National Laboratory!

Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy federally contracted National Laboratory located in Ames, Iowa, on the campus of Iowa State University. We are dedicated to translating foundational science through applied research to create technological innovations. We create materials, inspire minds to solve problems, and address some of the most challenging issues facing our world today. We promote and believe in a culture of civility and shared ownership in support of the Laboratory's collective success.

Department Unit/Website (if Applicable)

www.ameslab.gov

Why Choose Iowa State University?

• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Proposed Start Date

December 1, 2026

Number Of Months Employed Per Year

12 Month Work Period

Time Type

Full time

Pay Grade

Post Docs

Original Posting Date

October 20, 2026

Posting Close Date

October 26, 2026

Job Requisition Number

R20119

Employees with appointment at Ames National Laboratory are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation during the recruitment phase for review by Ames National Laboratory.

Employment is contingent upon satisfying applicable requirements of Ames National Laboratory's federal sponsor, the United States Department of Energy, and ISU requirements. These may include background checks and eligibility determinations related to access of facilities, information, or projects. This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain government access authorization for the duration of the appointment.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. [phone], email [e-mail].

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.