Postdoctoral Research Associate - STEM for Energy Materials

Requisition Id 13842 

Overview: 

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will focus on Advanced electron microscopy research for energy materials.  This position resides in the STEM group in the Nanomaterials Characterization Section, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), Physical Science Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

As part of our team, you will investigate the atomic and electronic structures in materials and correlate them with relevant properties for energy applications. You will utilize ORNL's new capabilities of aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). A particular focus of the research will be to understand interfacial phenomena in catalysts or solid-state battery materials.  Advanced electron microscopy capabilities, such as 4D-STEM and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) will be integrated into in situ environment/biasing experiments. You will play an integral role in electron microscopy and closely collaborate with other scientists for synthesis, theoretical calculations, and other characterization methods, across multiple divisions at ORNL. 

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Conduct materials research using aberration-corrected STEM and EELS; Integrate STEM and EELS within situ environment or biasing platforms
• Collaborate with project team members within and outside ORNL
• Be responsible for presenting and reporting research results and publishing scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in materials science and engineering, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, or a related field completed within the last 5 years

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in aberration-corrected STEM and EELS
• Background in python or Matlab
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory 
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.