Critical Materials Separation from Produced Waters Postdoctoral Researcher

The Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a well-qualified Postdoctoral Research Associate in chemistry, chemical engineering, geochemistry, or comparable discipline for the Mineral & Molecular Separations & Analysis Department. This postdoctoral researcher will focus on developing, optimizing, and scaling electrophoresis-based separation methods for recovering vanadium and other critical materials from high-salinity produced waters associated with aging unconventional oil and gas wells. Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of the Energy Innovation Laboratory with every other Friday off.

This role supports INL's leadership in a multi-institution collaboration with other national labs and industry. The postdoctoral researcher will work directly with their Principal Investigator and integrate closely with INL's electrophoresis, ligand design, and aqueous separations experts. They will plan and execute laboratory-scale capillary electrophoresis screening, optimize ligand systems for high-salinity environments, and perform free-flow electrophoresis scale-up experiments to isolate vanadium and additional critical metals.

The researcher will collaborate with other national lab scientists supplying produced water feed stocks and will contribute to method development that enables future field pilots. The candidate is expected to be a strong asset to our interdisciplinary R&D team and work effectively both alone and as a team member. The candidate must be self-motivated but also take direction from other team members and peers.

The position entails writing scientific manuscripts for journal publication, and presentation of research results at national and international conferences and meetings.

• PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering, geochemistry, or comparable disciplines.
• PhD requirements must be completed by commencement of appointment and within the previous 5 years.
• Design and conduct electrophoretic separations of vanadium and other critical metals from high-salinity produced waters using capillary and free-flow electrophoresis platforms.
• Develop and optimize ligand systems capable of enhancing electrophoretic mobility differences between the metals under brine conditions.
• Scale free-flow electrophoretic separation methods to evaluate throughput, purity, yield, and stage design needed for future field pilot operations.
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets using ICP-MS/OES, chromatography, CE detection modes, and additional analytical workflows to validate separation performance.
• Demonstrated oral and published written communication skills in English.

• Experience with electrophoresis, electrochemical separations, or ion transport phenomena.
• Background in high-salinity aqueous chemistry, brines, or produced water treatment.
• Experience designing ligand systems and understanding of metal-ligand coordination chemistry.
• Ability to work across multi-institution collaborations and communicate effectively with external partners

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and field/laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment. The employee must occasionally move up to 50 pounds using carts/dollies to move equipment into place.

Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The pay for this position is $ Annually. At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match (regular positions) or self-contribute access (postdoctoral positions)
• Paid time off (personal leave)
• Employee Education Program (tuition assistance for eligible positions)
• Comprehensive Relocation Package
• Benefit eligibility subject to multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.

At this time, BEA will not sponsor any H1-B visas obtained outside of the United States of America (U.S.A.), including consular visas.

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 6,300 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and…