Postdoctoral Research Associate - Biomaterials Characterization

Requisition Id 12406 

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.

 

The Biofuels Scientific Focus Area (Biofuels SFA) project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a postdoctoral research associate to pursue research in the field of biopolymer characterization using neutron and X-ray scattering techniques. This project aims to establish a fundamental understanding of plant cell wall structure as well as changes to its structure during chemical and enzymatic deconstruction, for production of cost- and energy-efficient biofuels. Neutron scattering provides unique avenues to investigate structure and dynamics of biomass and its component biopolymers through the application of isotope labeling and neutron contrast variation.

 

ORNL is host to world-leading neutron scattering instrumentation that provide unprecedented opportunities for advancing our knowledge about this multi-component, hierarchical biological material. You will conduct independent and collaborative neutron scattering experiments at ORNL’s neutron scattering facilities, the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), and Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team of biophysicists, chemists, computational scientists, and engineers. A significant part of your work will require you to coordinate with team members on the design, execution, and analysis of experiments. This role is an excellent opportunity for a young postdoctoral scientist to develop their career, broaden their experience in topics relevant to biopolymer characterization, and to interact with leading scientists from around the world.

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• You will pursue a high-quality independent and collaborative research program, build national and international collaborations, and publish research results in scientific journals.
• You will pursue complementary techniques such as X-ray scattering/diffraction.
• You will maintain strong communication with an interdisciplinary team of scientists such as coordinating with chemists on sample preparation and computational scientists on data modeling and interpretation.
• You will ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements
• As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL's Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct, and a statement by the Lab Director's office can be found here: https://www.ornl.gov/content/research-integrity.
• 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 Physical Chemistry, Food Science, Material Science, Agriculture, Biophysics, or a related field completed within the last 5 years.
• A strong record of productive and creative research demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels and to work in a multi-disciplinary team.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience with working in, or performing experiments at, neutron or synchrotron X-ray user facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work with graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and other research scientists from both academia and/or industry.
• Prior experience with chemical and bio-polymer materials characterization techniques.
• 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