Postdoctoral Research Associate-Optical Spectroscopy

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment.

These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

• Develop and operate advanced optical spectroscopy systems including laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, optical emission spectroscopy, and plasma diagnostics.
• Design and execute experiments involving molten salts, radioactive materials, and/or gas handling systems.
• Publish scientific papers and internal reports resulting from this research and present results at the appropriate settings.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our cove values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Science.
• As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL’s Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct and a statement by the Lab Director’s office can be found here: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-integrity

• To be eligible you must have completed a PhD in chemistry, physics, engineering, or a related field with in the last 5 years or expect to complete it by January 2027.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

• Experience with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, molten salt systems, and radioactive material handling.
• Hands-on expertise in lasers, optics, and optical emission spectroscopy.
• Experience designing custom experimental hardware, vacuum systems, and plasma diagnostics.
• Experience applying machine learning methods for predictive analysis.
• Expereince with the Python programming language.
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team environment on scientifically challenging problems.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate research results in peer-reviewed publications.
• Good interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

Applicants cannot receive their PhD more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice.

These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and…