Post Doc Research Associate – Emissions Catalysis

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, Integrated Discovery 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 Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system;

and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management. The Energy Processes and Materials Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, creates and delivers real world solutions that support the Department of Energy’s goals for national energy security. We deliver new technologies that connect fundamental science to applications in areas such as energy storage, advanced materials manufacturing, applied catalysis, advanced separations, biomass conversions, carbon capture and utilization, and hydrogen production and storage.

We employ a systems perspective that includes discovery, technology development, and scale-up as well as economic, regulatory, and market acceptance issues necessary for successful technology commercialization.

PNNL and the Institute for Integrated Catalysis (IIC) represent scientific and engineering leadership in catalysis research for the nation and world. Our expert staff provide multi-disciplinary solutions to complex energy and environmental issues. We employ a systems perspective that includes fundamental discovery, technology development and scale-up as well as economic, regulatory, and market acceptance issues necessary for successful technology commercialization. PNNL’s Advanced Energy Systems Group has an opening for a post doctorate research associate in emissions catalysis, supporting heterogeneous catalyst development and testing across a range of decarbonization and environmental applications.

The successful candidate will work with project teams to perform catalyst evaluations, pursue structural and functional understandings of the catalysts using a suite of state-of-the the‑art instruments, and collaborate with staff performing the corresponding computational chemistry. The post doc position will have a predominant focus on engine exhaust aftertreatment, with a focus on advanced catalyst development supporting internal combustion engines burning low carbon fuels.

The research will clarify barriers to aftertreatment in these applications and pursue opportunities to mitigate and circumvent these barriers in pursuit of advanced aftertreatment strategies tailored to low carbon fuel applications. The candidate will have the opportunity to be exposed PNNL’s biofuels, waste‑upgrading, as it relates to heterogeneous catalysis and chemical engineering. Additional responsibilities of the position include the following:

• Interact, communicate, and tackle problems with a diverse team of research staff
• Be able to take initiative and work independently when needed
• Lead manuscript development and maintain a strong publication record in the peer‑reviewed scientific literature
• Present research at conferences and project review meetings
• Participate in the development of research proposals
• Train and mentor others

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in…