Organometallic Research Chemist

** Basic Responsibilities
*** Organometallic Synthesis
* Molten Salt Research
* Chemical Separations and Purification
* Safety, Compliance, and Environmental Monitoring
* Research, Development, and Technical Support
* Documentation, Reporting, and Collaboration
** Essential Duties
**** Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
**** Organometallic Synthesis
*** Develop various organic and metal-organic molecular/supramolecular systems and nanostructured materials.
* Characterize synthesized materials using XRD, DSC, FTIR, Raman, etc.
* Determine compatibility of synthesized materials with molten salts.
** Molten Salt Research
*** Design and execute experiments to determine the effectiveness of materials for extraction of species from molten salts.
* Design material forms that are compatible with insertion and removal from a molten salt reactor.
* Demonstrate the effectiveness of materials for the extraction of species from a molten salt reactor.
** Chemical Separations and Purification
*** Design and execute experiments to determine the ability to remove species from extraction materials.
* Implement processes to separate and purify fission products after removal from a molten salt reactor.
* Optimize separation and purification procedures to maximize product yield.
** Safety, Compliance, and Environmental Monitoring
*** Ensure compliance with nuclear regulatory requirements and university safety protocols.
* Support radiation licensing and hazardous chemical safety, including beryllium exposure control.
* Participate in environmental monitoring and waste management related to chemical processes.
** Research, Development, and Technical Support
*** Contribute to ongoing R&D projects supporting a molten salt research reactor’s scientific surveillance layer (SSL).
* Provide chemical expertise to reactor operations, simulation teams, and cross-disciplinary projects.
* Mentor students and junior staff in chemical techniques and laboratory practices.
** Documentation, Reporting, and Collaboration
*** Maintain accurate laboratory records, sample logs, and analysis reports.
* Support preparation of technical publications, safety analysis reports, grant proposals, and regulatory submissions.
* Collaborate across disciplines (nuclear engineering, physics, materials science) to advance NEXT Lab’s mission.
** Professional Development Requirements
**** Skills
* ** Strong foundation in synthetic organometallic chemistry.
* Experience with reticular chemistry.
* Knowledge of crystallography.
* Proficiency with laboratory instrumentation (XRD, DSC, FTIR, Raman, etc.).
* Knowledge of molten salt chemistry and solid-phase extraction.
* Understanding of nuclear safety, radiation chemistry, and hazardous materials management.
* Strong problem-solving and data analysis abilities.
** Training Modules Required
*** Radiation safety and licensing training.
* Chemical hygiene and laboratory safety.
* Hazardous materials handling, including anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and beryllium control protocols.
* Emergency response and spill prevention training.
* Advanced modules on molten salt chemistry and SSL integration.
** Qualifications
* *** Professional
* ** Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field (Ph.D. preferred). To be eligible for a dual faculty appointment, a master’s or doctoral degree will be required.
* A successful record of grant-proposal writing is preferred.
* 3–5 years of laboratory experience (academic, industrial, or national lab).
* Experience with molten salts, separation science, or high-temperature chemistry strongly preferred.
* Demonstrated record of technical reporting and collaborative research.
** Personal
* ** Detail-oriented and committed to safety.
* Strong communicator with ability to explain complex chemistry to non-chemists.
* Collaborative, adaptable, and able to work across disciplines.
* Self-motivated with curiosity for applied nuclear research.
* Passionate about advancing NEXT Lab’s mission in innovative nuclear energy.
** Physical Demands
*** Able to lift 50 pounds on a regular basis.
* Able to stand 1 hour or more.

ACU does not…