Post Doctorate RA - Actinide Chemistry

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.

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 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.

The position will report directly within the Nuclear Material Processing (NMP) group, which resides within the National Security Directorate  position will support several projects that are aligned around common themes of:

• Hands on wet chemistry operations involving lanthanides and actinides, particularly the transuranium elements Pu and Am.
• Radiochemistry separations processes, including hands-on anion and cation chromatography separations.
• Inorganic chemical or physical transformations, including redox chemistry, oxide conversation/dissolution, and synthesis.
• Analytical analyses include optical and vibratory spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction.

• Conduct independent research and work on team projects.
• Interact, communicate, and collaborate with a diverse team of research staff across PNNL.
• Present research at technical conferences and project/program review meetings.
• Contribute to the development of research proposals.

• 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.
• Experience in bench, or actinide, or lanthanide chemistry.

• Ph.D. in radiochemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry or related field.
• Well-versed in actinide or lanthanide chemistry.
• Experience with wet chemistry and anion/cation exchange chromatography.
• A track record for planning, conducting, and reporting experimental work is required as evidenced by a growing list of peer-reviewed publications.

The incumbent must be able/willing to work with hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials. The primary work location for this position is within the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory (RPL), a DOE hazard category 2 non-reactor nuclear facility, s unique research facility is supported by the DOE's Office of Science, and the primary mission is to conduct cutting edge research on actinides or other high-dose radioactive and nuclear materials.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance. A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background Investigation:
  Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix
  
  B.
• Drug Testing:
  All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Note:

Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.

This position is a Testing Designated…