Postdoctoral Scientist - Sustainable Energy Production, Storage, & Utilization
Posting Duration
This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
What Your Job Will Be Like
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to develop materials solutions that enable efficient storage and transport of hydrogen. There are two primary research themes:
- Synthesis of metal hydride nanoparticles using nanoporous materials as active hosts to tailor the thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen release, as well as efficient heat transport through the material. This includes understanding phenomena governing metal hydride chemical reactions, gas adsorption and transport of small molecules, and effects of confinement on material properties.
- Development of heterogeneous catalysts to enable the use of liquid organic compounds as reversible hydrogen carriers.
These efforts aim for the rational design of new materials by changing the chemical composition, the arrangement of the atoms or molecules in crystalline or amorphous configurations, and the size, shape, and orientation of particles, films, crystals or other nano- or macroscopic units.
The research is carried out in close collaboration with computational modeling, systems engineering, and machine learning/data science to accelerate materials discovery. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of scientists (www.hymarc.org) and be expected to play a major role in synthesizing new materials and advancing their structural characterization using state-of-the-art scattering and spectroscopic techniques, including synchrotron-based tools.
For additional information, please visit https://energy.sandia.gov/programs/sustainable-transportation/hydrogen/storage/
Qualifications We Require
- Doctorate in chemistry, materials science or related field with a strong emphasis on synthesis of porous or nanoscale materials.
- Background in catalysis science.
- Strong publication record
Qualifications We Desire
Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Handling air-sensitive compounds, Schlenk line and glove-box techniques, and standard analytical techniques (spectroscopy, diffraction, electron microscopy, etc.).
- Synthesis and/or characterization of MOFs, COFs, porous organic cage molecules, and/or porous carbons.
- Advanced characterization techniques, such as neutron methods, soft X-ray techniques, small-angle X-ray scattering, XPS, TEM, solid-state NMR, PCT/Sieverts, mass-spectroscopy.
About Our Team
The Energy Nanomaterials Department is a research organization specializing in the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials for energy and national security applications. Projects in the department's research portfolio include applications of nanoporous materials (such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and porous carbons); materials for energy and hydrogen storage; solid electrolytes; thermoelectrics; and advanced characterization (including electron microscopy, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, porosimetry, atomic force microscopy, and nanoindentation). The team also employs data science and machine learning to reveal structure-property-function relationships and discover new materials.
Position Information
This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.
Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.
About Sandia
Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:
• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*
World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov
*These benefits vary by job classification.
Security Clearance
This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.
Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.
If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.
Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.
EEO
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.