Postdoctoral Researcher: Civil-Infra Polymer Durability

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 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