Postdoctoral Researcher – Decarbonized Structural Building Materials

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Mar 27

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Entry Level
Research & Development
$71.3K - $117.6K
Golden

Requirements

The candidate will get the opportunity to be involved in detailed experimental research and linking the knowledge to several other aspects of systems engineering. Moreover, the candidate will be able to learn different techniques and measurement equipment utilized for thermal, mass transfer, mechanical, and chemical measurements.
The ideal candidate will have several or all the following:
Strong background in polymer synthesis, lignin chemistry, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and/or a related field.
Experience in experimental work synthesizing lignin and/or polymer networks and completing their characterization.
Demonstrated research capability and creativity to solve challenging problems, as well as the ability to work well in a team.
Experience with concrete characterization tools (e.g. freeze-thaw chambers, rheometers).
Good communication skills.
Ability to document the research in the form of technical reports, journal articles, and presentations.
Basic Qualifications:
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications:
Candidate should have a strong aptitude to learn and explore the field needed for development, to be motivated and dedicated, and to deliver research results on time and on budget.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, documentation skills, oral and writing proficiency in English.
We do not expect a candidate to hold all the skills listed above but the candidate should illustrate the eagerness to learn and potential for professional growth.
Preferred Qualifications:
Recent Ph.D. degree, within the last three years, in Chemistry, Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering or related field with demonstrated experience in some or all of the following:
Experience in synthesizing polymers.
Experience with lignin chemistry.
Experience in concrete synthesis and characterization.
Knowledge of mechanical properties of polymers.

Responsibilities

Perform chemical modifications and characterization of lignin to form high-strength materials.
Characterize the chemical and thermal properties of these materials using tools like nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Characterize the mechanical and application-dependent properties using tools like dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile testing, 3-point bending testing, freeze-thaw testing, accelerated UV/heat/moisture aging tests, and compression strength testing.
Scale up synthesis and troubleshoot manufacturing issues.
Assist in project management, including writing reports, journal articles, and presentations for program review or conferences.
Assist in lifecycle analysis (LCA) and technoeconomic analysis (TEA)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Science & Healthcare

Industry

1001-5000

Employees

1977

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a Department of Energy national lab, is #TransformingEnergy as the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL's Mission: NREL develops renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advances related science and engineering, and transfers knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy and environmental goals. NREL's Strategy: NREL has forged a focused strategic direction to increase its impact on the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) and our nation's energy goals by accelerating the research path from scientific innovations to market-viable alternative energy solutions.