Post-Masters; Aerosol Science Student

What You Will Do

The Post-Masters Student will work in the Aerosol Engineering Facility within the Radiation Protection Services (RP-SVS) group at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This position supports aerosol science experiments crucial to understanding respirable releases from nuclear material storage containers. The work directly supports LANL's mission of ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile and advancing technologies that reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction.

The selected students will participate in two funded projects in collaboration with the Operational Safety and Compliance Programs (PSS-2) and Auxiliary Systems (PFE-AUX) groups.

• The PSS-2 project involves drop testing of (clean) nuclear material storage container systems to study physical parameters associated with container lifetime extension.
• The PFE-AUX project involves drop testing and rapid over-pressurization (up to 30 PSIG) experiments to measure respirable aerosol source terms.

These experiments will be performed in the Respirable Release Fraction Measurement Chamber (RRFMC), a facility qualified under NQA-1-2008/1a-2009 Subpart 4.2 for R&D work (Moore et al., 2021, LA-UR-21-31763). The over-pressurization system is located within the RRFMC's safety pressure boundary and approved by the LANL Pressure Safety Committee (Moore and Davis, 2021, LA-UR-21-21409).

Project/work plan description:
Participate in design, setup, and execution of aerosol generation, measurement, and containment experiments; data acquisition; and analysis of particle size distributions and aerodynamic behavior.

Expected duration of internship: 12 months (with potential extension based on performance and funding)

Final date to receive applications for best consideration:
Open until filled; early applications encouraged.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

• Foundational understanding of aerosol science and experimental fluid mechanics (e.g., aerodynamic equivalent diameter, standard vs. ambient air flowrate conversions).
• Familiarity with laboratory safety and experimental control procedures.
• Knowledge of data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods for aerosol and flow measurements.

• Experience with test and measurement systems for aerosol characterization.
• Ability to solve technical problems and effectively document and communicate results.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Record-keeping requirements include use of hand-written logbooks, emails, spreadsheets, text documents and photography.

• Work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently and meet deadlines.
• Work with pressurized air systems up to 100 PSIG (training provided).
• Assist with the disposition of chemical waste under existing methods (training provided).
• Facility dress code includes long pants, safety shoes and safety glasses for all work tasks. A hard hat is required for operations inside the drop tower.
• Radioactive sources are not used in regular operations, but radiation worker training is required for visits to relevant locations (training provided).
• Work with electrical systems in a non-energized mode (training provided).
• Perform physical work involving lifting up to 40 pounds, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and using ladders or scaffolds (training provided).

LANL safety, ladder, scaffold, pressure, chemical waste, radiation worker and electrical (provided upon hire).

• Must have earned a Master’s degree within the last three years in mechanical, civil, chemical, or nuclear engineering, physics, or a closely related science discipline from an ABET-accredited institution (or international equivalent).
• Minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).

• Experience with aerosol filter systems and source-term measurements relevant to nuclear material storage containers.
• Familiarity with aerosol wind tunnel techniques (e.g., US EPA 40 CFR 53.41).
• Experience using aerosol size distribution instruments such as cascade impactors or particle sizers.
• Active DOE Q clearance or…