Postdoctoral Appointee – Mechanical Engineering

Postdoctoral Appointee – Applied Materials Division

The Applied Materials Division at Argonne National Laboratory has an immediate opening for a Postdoctoral Appointee. The candidate will be responsible for reviewing and developing design methods and models for high‑temperature structural materials with applications in nuclear reactors and other energy systems. The research will collaborate with ANL staff to review, validate, and enhance methods for predicting the reliability of high‑temperature structural components, working with continuum damage mechanics models and statistical reliability models to enhance engineering design for safer and more reliable components.

The researcher will also contribute to technical reports, conference papers, and journal publications, and present findings at technical conferences.

• Recent or soon‑to‑be completed PhD (typically within the last 0‑5 years) in mechanical engineering, materials science, civil engineering, structural engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with finite element simulations and developing constitutive models.
• Knowledge of high‑temperature creep crack growth.
• Knowledge of engineering design codes such as the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, API standards, R5, RCC-MRx, or similar documents.
• Programming experience in Python.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to present research at all levels of organization.
• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
• On‑site presence required at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois.

• Background in fracture‑mechanics based reliability modeling.
• Familiarity with the basic structure‑property relations for metallic and ceramic materials.
• Experience in engineering design, particularly for high‑temperature components.
• Experience with the MOOSE finite element simulation framework.

Pay Range: $72,879.00 – $ (general guideline; final pay based on qualifications and other factors). Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.