Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemical Design and Formulation of Densified Fluids

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 99,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to design and formulate high-density fluids for superhot geothermal systems. You will develop composition–property relationships to optimize density, viscosity, phase behavior, and thermal stability at extreme temperatures and pressures, working with LANL experts.

The role emphasizes experimental qualification under demanding geothermal conditions, collaboration across geochemistry and materials teams, and dissemination of

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Geochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Hands-on experience designing and formulating liquid or multiphase fluid systems.
• Ability to interpret composition–property relationships to guide design.
• Experience with experimental instrumentation and quantitative analysis.
• Peer‑reviewed research record with lead‑author publication when possible.

Responsibilities

• Design and formulate new high-density working fluids for superhot geothermal systems.
• Establish systematic composition–structure–property relationships to guide formulation.
• Experimentally qualify promising fluids under extreme 375 °C / 22 MPa conditions.
• Collaborate with geochemistry, geomechanics, and AI/ML teams and publish results.

Skills

Fluid formulation design

Thermodynamics

Structure-property relationships

Collaboration & writing

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

PhD in Chemistry/Geochemistry

Tools

High-temp rheometers

Autoclaves

ICP-MS/OES

XRD

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemical Design and Formulation of Densified Fluids for Superhot Geothermal Systems

What You Will Do

The Fractured Earth Laboratory and Microfluidics Laboratory in the Analytical Earth Science Group (EES-15) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to design and formulate new high-density working fluids for superhot geothermal systems.

The primary scientific responsibility of this position is fluid design. The successful candidate will identify promising chemical systems, formulate new fluids, establish composition-property relationships, and optimize tradeoffs among density, viscosity, rheology, phase stability, thermal stability, pumpability, chemical compatibility, and cost. The most promising formulations will then be experimentally qualified under extreme geothermal conditions.

The research will support gravity-assisted geothermal concepts and related subsurface-energy technologies requiring fluids that remain stable and functional at temperatures of 375 °C or higher and pressures of 22 MPa or higher. LANL provides extensive expertise and experimental capabilities in superhot geothermal systems, high-temperature/high-pressure experimentation, analytical chemistry, geomechanics, porous-media flow, and subsurface engineering. Prior geothermal experience is therefore beneficial but is not the primary requirement; demonstrated expertise in fluid chemistry and formulation is more important.

Candidate Fluid Chemistries

• concentrated single- and mixed-salt brines;
• aqueous and nonaqueous high-density liquid systems;
• ionic, molecular, or hybrid working fluids;
• particle-laden and colloidal formulations;
• CO₂-assisted or other multiphase systems;
• additives, stabilizers, cosolvents, or other components used to control density, viscosity, phase behavior, precipitation, or thermal stability.

The candidate will establish systematic composition-structure-property relationships and use them to guide formulation rather than relying solely on trial-and-error screening. Experimental measurements may include density, viscosity and rheology, phase behavior, solubility, thermal stability, heat capacity, dispersion stability, sedimentation, pumpability, and chemical and materials compatibility.

Major Research Component

• thermal decomposition and chemical degradation;
• salt solubility and phase separation;
• Mineral dissolution and precipitation;
• secondary-phase formation;
• scaling and deposition;
• corrosion and materials compatibility;
• fluid-rock reactions;
• changes in rheological and thermophysical properties during thermal exposure.

Depending on the candidate's background, computational approaches such as thermodynamic modeling, molecular modeling, structure-property prediction, CALPHAD-type methods, or AI/ML-guided formulation screening may be used to reduce the experimental search space and accelerate fluid discovery.

LANL capabilities supporting this work include high-pressure rheometry, thermal conductivity device, Parr reactors, Dickson-style autoclaves, cold-seal and dynamic flow-through reactors, high-temperature/high-pressure Raman spectroscopy, ICP-MS/OES, XRD, SEM, thermal-analysis methods, wet-chemistry and mineralogy laboratories, core-flooding systems, and rock-mechanics facilities.

The candidate will work closely with scientists and engineers specializing in geochemistry, geomechanics, high-pressure/high-temperature experimentation, thermodynamic modeling, reactive transport, AI/ML, reservoir simulation, and geothermal engineering. The candidate will document reproducible formulation and testing methods, publish results in peer-reviewed journals, present at technical conferences, and contribute to collaborative research programs.

The position is for a two-year term, with the possibility of extension to a third year based on performance and funding availability.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Geochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, or a closely related discipline with research experience relevant to liquid formulation, solution chemistry, thermodynamics, or reactive fluid systems.
• Candidates with degrees in other engineering or physical-science disciplines may be considered only if they demonstrate substantial hands‑on experience designing chemical fluid formulations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and formulating liquid or multiphase fluid systems to achieve targeted properties such as density, viscosity, rheology, phase stability, solubility, thermal stability, dispersion stability, chemical compatibility, or transport behavior.
• Evidence that the candidate has personally made formulation decisions, including selection of chemical components, concentrations, additives, solvents, salts, particles, or other constituents and systematic modification of those variables to achieve performance targets.
• Hands‑on laboratory experience preparing chemical formulations and quantitatively characterizing their physical and/or chemical properties.
• Experience with experimental instrumentation, laboratory equipment, data acquisition, and quantitative analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret composition-property or structure-property relationships and use experimental results to guide subsequent formulation design.
• A record of peer‑reviewed research, including at least one lead‑author publication, and demonstrated written, oral, and collaborative communication skills.

Important clarification: Experience limited primarily to characterization or application testing of pre‑existing fluids, without substantial responsibility for formulation design, is not sufficient by itself for this position.

Education/Experience

Candidates must have received a Ph.D. within the last five years in a relevant STEM discipline or must have completed all Ph.D. requirements by the start of the appointment.

Desired Qualifications

• High-density fluid or brine formulation, including concentrated electrolytes, mixed-salt solutions, high-salinity fluids, drilling/completion fluids, heat‑transfer fluids, or other dense working fluids.
• Solution thermodynamics and phase behavior, including solubility, activity, speciation, liquid‑liquid or solid‑liquid equilibrium, electrolyte thermodynamics, or high-temperature aqueous chemistry.
• Molecular or thermodynamic fluid design, including development of structure-property relationships, molecular descriptors, equation-of-state methods, COSMO-based methods, molecular simulation, or predictive formulation tools.
• Ionic liquids, deep‑eutectic solvents, concentrated electrolytes, advanced solvents, or other functional liquid systems.
• Rheological characterization and formulation of Newtonian or non‑Newtonian fluids, including viscosity, viscoelasticity, yield stress, shear‑rate dependence, or suspension rheology.
• Hydrothermal geochemistry, geothermal brines, water‑rock interaction, mineral dissolution/precipitation, scaling, or corrosion.
• Thermal stability and decomposition chemistry of fluids under elevated temperature and pressure.
• Colloid and suspension chemistry, including particle stabilization, dispersion, sedimentation control, surface chemistry, or particle‑fluid interactions.
• Operation of high-temperature/high-pressure rheometers, autoclaves, reaction vessels, or flow‑through systems. Prior HPHT experience is desirable but is not required for an otherwise strong candidate in fluid chemistry and formulation.
• Analytical characterization using techniques such as NMR, Raman, FTIR, ICP-MS/OES, ion chromatography, HPLC, GC-MS, XRD, SEM/EDS, DSC/TGA, particle-size analysis, or microscopy.
• Computational analysis using Python, MATLAB, R, or similar tools and/or experience with thermodynamic, molecular, reactive‑transport, CALPHAD, or machine‑learning approaches.
• Demonstrated commitment to safe, reproducible laboratory research, including experimental procedures, chemical compatibility assessment, hazard analysis, and operating documentation.

Postdoc Salary Structure

Postdoc salaries are based on the year PhD degree requirements were completed or the degree awarded, unless identified separately below. Postdocs receive an annual increase in February in line with LANL salary management practices and market analysis data. These increases will be given automatically through LANL’s HR system.

PhD Graduation year Salary

2026 $99,500

2025 $101,490

2024 $103,839

2023 $106,097

2022 $108,354

2021 $109,911

Note to Applicants

No applicant is expected to have experience in every area listed above. The highest priority is demonstrated ability to design and formulate fluids based on chemical and thermophysical performance requirements. Prior geothermal experience is not required.

Institutional Sections to Retain from the Existing LANL Posting

Retain the current LANL language for work location, schedule, citizenship/access restrictions, postdoctoral eligibility, fellowships, benefits, pre-employment requirements, equal opportunity, and standard application instructions, unless HR requires other updates.