Hoffman Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow — Nuclear Nonproliferation

The Darleane

C. Hoffman Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship is a two-year fellowship for early-career scientists who intend to build long-term careers in nuclear nonproliferation across the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory system. It is part of the Next Generation Nonproliferation Leadership Development Program (Next Gen), which supports the nonproliferation mission of the U.S. DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

Following the fellowship, participants are expected to pursue career staff opportunities across the DOE national laboratory system. These positions require a separate application, interview, and hiring process through the hiring laboratory. Next Gen may provide salary support to the hiring laboratory during the first two years of an eligible appointment. Candidates should be open to opportunities at multiple DOE laboratories and geographic locations, as employment at any particular laboratory or location is not guaranteed.

Laboratories engaged in nonproliferation work include Argonne, Brookhaven, Idaho, Kansas City National Security Campus, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, Nevada National Security Site, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest, Sandia, Savannah River, Y-12, and others across the DOE complex.

Nonproliferation Research Draws On a Broad Range Of Scientific And Technical Disciplines. Fellows Propose Independent Research Projects That Advance The Nuclear Nonproliferation Mission. Areas Of Interest Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Nuclear and radiochemistry, nuclear forensics, and isotopic analysis
• Actinide and nuclear fuel cycle chemistry
• Nuclear physics and accelerator-based science
• Radiation detection, imaging, and instrumentation
• Materials science, photonics, and advanced sensor development
• Seismology and geophysics, including seismic modeling, sensing, and other approaches to detecting and characterizing nuclear-related activity
• Environmental signatures, including atmospheric and subsurface fate and transport, atmospheric modeling, isotope geochemistry, and remote sensing
• Data processing, signal analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computational methods applicable across these research areas

• Define project scope, objectives, and research strategies for an independent research project advancing nuclear nonproliferation.
• Manage the project's budget, schedule, and milestones, and adapt plans as results emerge.
• Execute technical work, whether experimental, field-based, or computational, and collaborate across disciplines.
• Ensure high-quality data through sound practices in instrumentation, field measurement, modeling, or analysis, as appropriate to your project.
• Communicate results through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, conference presentations, and sponsor engagement.
• Build collaborative networks across Berkeley Lab and the DOE national laboratory complex, including with laboratories where you may pursue a staff position.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, high-performing research environment.
• Participate in Next Gen programming including scientific leadership, project management, nuclear nonproliferation, and career development.
• Engage in seminars, workshops, and group meetings to foster interdisciplinary exchange, broaden your scientific perspective and support your professional growth.
• Explore the broader DOE national laboratory system through visits, engagement, and networking with participating laboratories, particularly during the second year of the fellowship, to learn about different missions, research environments, and career opportunities.

• Ph.D. in a technical field such as chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering (nuclear, computer,…