Postdoctoral Researcher – Controlling Charges in 2D Materials and Plasmonic Nanostructures

National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 76,600 - 126,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match

Paid personal time off and sick leave

Job summary

National Renewable Energy Laboratory seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to conduct fundamental studies on charge generation and separation in photoactive nanomaterials.

This role involves synthesizing and characterizing 2D materials while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Competitive salary and benefits offered, including health insurance and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Recent PhD graduate (within the last three years) in relevant fields.
• Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publication, and communication.
• Preferred: Experience in nanostructure synthesis and characterization.

Responsibilities

• Conduct synthesis and characterization of 2D materials and plasmonic nanostructures.
• Utilize top-down and bottom-up methods for 2D layer production.
• Collaborate with scientists to investigate new chemistries and architectures.

Skills

Scientific writing

Data analysis

Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams

Nanostructure synthesis

Optoelectronic properties characterization

Education

PhD in Chemistry, Material Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Raman spectroscopy

Transmission electron microscopy

Atomic force microscopy

Job description

Overview

National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is a national laboratory dedicated to energy innovation and research. The Chemistry and Nanoscience Center is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to conduct fundamental studies on charge generation, separation, and recombination in photoactive nanomaterials.

Responsibilities

• Conduct synthesis, manipulation, and characterization of 2D materials and plasmonic nanostructures, including transition metal dichalcogenides and metal nanoparticles.
• Utilize top‑down (mechanical, surfactant, and chemical exfoliation) and bottom‑up (chemical vapor deposition, solvo/hydrothermal growth) methods to produce 2D layers.
• Perform wet‑chemical synthesis of plasmonic heterointerfaces and engineer doping, functionalization, defect engineering, plasmonic interactions, and strain to tune optoelectronic properties.
• Probe charge transfer at interfaces using techniques such as confocal Raman, photoluminescence spectroscopy and microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, transient absorption, and other relevant methods.
• Analyze data, design experiments, and write scientific manuscripts and presentations in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Collaborate with material scientists, chemists, spectroscopists, and theorists to investigate surfaces and interfaces of newly developed chemistries and architectures.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications: Recent PhD graduate (within the last three years) holding a PhD in Chemistry, Material Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Additional Required Qualifications: Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publication, and communication.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Direct experience in nanostructure synthesis with a focus on 2D materials or plasmonics.
  • Experience with surface functionalization, phase control, and defect engineering of nanostructures.
  • Designing, making, and modifying heterostructures.
  • Characterization of optoelectronic properties of semiconductors.
  • Spectroscopy or microscopy of nanomaterial surfaces.

Benefits & Salary

Annual salary range: $76,600 - $126,400 based on full‑time 40 hours per week. Benefits include medical, dental, vision insurance, short‑term disability, pension, 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, paid personal time off and sick leave, and paid holidays. Options for performance, merit, and achievement awards may be available.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The agency provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. For more details, please refer to the agency website.