Post Bachelors RA - Applied Radiation & Detection

** Overview*
* At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real-world threats to our nation and the world.

The Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Technologies Division, within the National Security Directorate, works across fundamental science, research and development, and operations to counter emerging national security threats. We focus on discovering signatures and understanding threats by creating materials, methods, and technologies to detect and analyze them. Our researchers deliver the solutions necessary for addressing complex mission challenges, such as explosives detection, biological threat detection, chemical and nuclear forensics, and special nuclear materials.

** Responsibilities*
* Protecting U.S. citizens and our visitors is among our Nation's highest priorities. As adversaries gain access to sophisticated technologies and materials, the threats grow more dynamic and complex-from cyber and nuclear to chemical and biological weapons of mass effect and other forms of terrorism. The PNNL National Security Mission employs our researchers, tools, and technologies to play a key role in advancing the ability to identify and secure nuclear materials, detect weapons of mass effect, manage nonproliferation treaties, secure our nation's borders, and protect critical infrastructure.

We are looking for a recent bachelor's degree graduate to help shape project focus, drive and success. This position will reside in the Applied Radiation Detection (ARD) Group, Nuclear Chemistry Biology Technology Division within NSD. The ARD Group is focused on the research and development of radiation-detection-based technologies, including in-field and lab-based measurement systems, for important end-users. Projects within the group range from fundamental science projects to applied projects in support of international treaties, homeland security, nuclear security, and safeguards covering the areas of nuclear science, novel sensor development, and advanced data analysis and techniques for large systems and processes.

This research associate position will include the use and improvement of an ultra-high resolution microcalorimeter gamma spectrometer, developing algorithms and software for automated analysis, and studying the detection system's sensitivity to complex mixed fission/activation product samples.

The candidate should have interest and/or experience in maintaining and operating gamma spectrometers, complex data analysis using AI, MLL-based algorithms, and systems automation.

The candidate should have a working knowledge or be prepared to learn radiation transport, C++/Python, and CERN's ROOT &GEANT4 data analysis & simulation frameworks; these skills will be leveraged to develop automated spectral analysis and lab control tools while supporting open-source development of advanced radio-emission spectroscopy instrumentation & methods

The candidate may also assist with and learn radiochemistry methods, including sample digestions, chemical separations, and sample preparation.

If you love science and the National Security Mission we get to participate in, then join us!

** Qualifications*
* Minimum Qualifications:

+ Candidates must have received a Bachelor's degree within the past 24 months or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Strong background in their major field of study, the ability to work tasking with some oversight and guidance, an interest in working with others as part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers addressing challenges with national and international impact.

+ Experience related to radiation spectroscopy and gamma-ray detector systems.

+ Experience in detector data analysis, including programming expertise in a language useful for data analysis such as C++ or Python.

+ Some experience with CERN's ROOT and GEANT4 data analysis and simulation software frameworks.

+ Some experience with small scale software development and software management using version tracking tools like GIT.

+ Strong knowledge of counting statistics, a combination of counting statistics and information theory is preferred.

+ Strong oral and written communication skills.

** Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment*
* Not applicable.

** Additional Information*
* This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

A security clearance background…