PREP Research Associate

NIST; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, MD invites a postdoctoral researcher to work on expanding the polymer Pyrolysis Search Software library and developing robust mass spectrometry methods for plastic particle identification.

You will implement data analysis code, author peer-reviewed outputs, and help establish standard procedures while collaborating with internal teams and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field.
• Working familiarity with mass spectrometry.
• Knowledge of organic chemical structures and nomenclature.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Mass spectrometry measurements.
• Sample preparation including cryogrinding of laboratory and commercial plastic samples.
• Computer code creation for data analysis and mass spectral library searching.
• Creation of standard measurement protocols.
• Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
• Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization.

Skills

Mass spectrometry knowledge

Strong communication skills

Education

Master’s degree or higher in chemistry/chemical engineering/materials science

Job description

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP)
program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic
institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the
recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work
on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that
underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

The work will entail: In contribution to the NIST Circular Economy Program, the NIST Mass Spectrometry
Data Center is working on a comprehensive approach to the identification of plastic particles using mass
spectrometry. Due to the wide use of synthetic plastics, plastic particles have become ubiquitous. This
has become an issue of national importance. Standard reference data, and standard measurement
procedures, are required to put the field on a firm metrology foundation. The postdoctoral candidate will
work to 1) extend the existing NIST Py-GC-MS spectral reference library (NIST Polymer Pyrolysis Search
Software) to include a greater number of common consumer plastics, 2) develop experimental methods
for repeatable and robust pyrolysis of polymers, 3) develop computer code for the evaluation of the data
generated in items 1 and 2, and 4) author peer-review publications and documentary standards resulting
from these efforts. Additional mass spectral methods to be used include may liquid chromatography
mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical
ionization (APCI), and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Measurements by mass spectrometry.
• Sample preparation including cryogrinding of laboratory and commercial plastic samples.
• Computer code creation for data analysis and mass spectral library searching.
• Creation of standard measurement protocols.
• Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
• Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization.

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree or higher in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field.
• Working familiarity with mass spectrometry
• Knowledge of organic chemical structures and nomenclature
• Strong oral and written communication skills.