Postdoctoral Research Associate - In situ Neutron Scattering of Energy Materials

Requisition Id 13116 

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 in Powder Diffraction Group who will develop in situ diffraction capabilities for neutron diffractometers at SNS and HFIR, including POWGEN & NOMAD at SNS and HB2A POWDER & HB2C WAND² at HFIR. The Powder Diffraction Group resides in the Neutron Scattering Division (NSD), Neutron Sciences Directorate (NScD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). More details about the instruments and their scientific impact can be found at https://neutrons.ornl.gov/powgen, https://neutrons.ornl.gov/nomad, https://neutrons.ornl.gov/powder, https://neutrons.ornl.gov/wand.

 

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will focus on scientific projects to advance our understanding of energy materials critical for carbon neutral technologies, under realistic conditions. You will work as part of a team whose interest include, but are not limited to, charge-discharge process in batteries, adsorption behaviors of MOFs & zeolite and gas-solid interaction in heterogeneous catalyst.

 

In this role, you will: (1) Develop in situ capabilities for neutron scattering instruments at POWGEN/NOMAD at SNS and POWDER/WAND² at HFIR, (2) Perform elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on relevant powder samples under in situ conditions, (3) Combine neutron scattering data with complementary techniques at ORNL, to understand the structure-property relationship of energy materials critical for carbon neutral technologies.

 

This work will be conducted with close interaction and collaboration with other scientists within Neutron Scattering Division, with opportunities to work with collaborators in a stimulating multidisciplinary environment across ORNL. The prospective candidate will also have the opportunity to develop their own science using the proposed sample environments.

 

Neutron Sciences Directorate:

NScD operates the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), the United States' highest flux reactor-based neutron source, and the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), the world's most intense pulsed accelerator-based neutron source. Together these facilities operate 30 instruments for neutron scattering research, each year carrying out more than 1,000 experiments in the physical, chemical, materials, biological and medical sciences. HFIR also provides unique facilities for isotope production and neutron irradiation. 

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Contribute to the design, construction, and commissioning of sample environments for in situ/operando neutron powder diffraction of materials for gas storage, chemical separation, energy storage, and catalysis, using powder diffractometors at both the SNS and HFIR.
• Perform neutron scattering experiments that focus on in situ/operando investigations of energy materials.
• Reduce, analyze, and interpret the data obtained.
• Publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Present results from this research at national and international meetings.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements.
• 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 material science, chemistry, chemical engineering, condensed matter physics, or a related field completed within the last 5 years.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with neutron and/or X-ray powder diffraction and structural analysis.
• Experience with energy storage and conversion materials (e.g., Li/Na/Mg/Zn ion batteries, all solid state batteries).
• Background in porous materials and heterogeneous catalysis resear