PhD Intern - Geochemistry

Overview

At PNNL,our core capabilities are dividedamongmajor departments that werefer to as Directorates within the Lab,focused on a specific area of scientific research orother function, with its own leadership teamand dedicated budget.

Our Science & Technologydirectoratesinclude National Security,Earthand Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy  addition,we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory,a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate's (PCSD’s) strengths in experimental, computational, and theoretical chemistry and materials science, together with our advanced computing, applied mathematics and data science capabilities, are central to the discovery mission we embrace  our most important resource is our people—experts across the range of scientific disciplines who team together to take on the biggest scientific challenges of our time.

The Physical Sciences Division stewardso discovery science research portfolios including catalysis, materials science, separations, analytical chemistry, geosciences, and chemical physics. Our research strives to refine our molecular-level understanding of multiphase systems and phenomena including complex interfaces. We discover and apply new knowledge to address major national priorities and needs in energy sustainability through the development of new energy storage technologies and the creation of high-value fuels and materials from abundant wastes.

Contribute to PNNL’s goals in understanding the complex systems and phenomena vital to the nation's energy and environmental resources as part of the Lab’s Physical Sciences Division (PSD). As a PhD Intern in the Geochemistry group, you will work with other experienced researchers to develop and perform benchtop and hydrothermal liquid–rock reactions to study metal ion interaction, incorporation and distribution in natural and synthetic minerals to delineate their dissolution, nucleation, growth, and crystallization—and to use various wet chemical and optical spectroscopy techniques, such as Raman, FTIR, with complementary microscopy and elemental analysis (e.g., XRD/SAXS, DLS, SEM/TEM, AFM, ICP).

Your research results will help advancing DOE missions in critical minerals, environmental cleanup, and sustainable materials.

If you are ready to expand your training in Geochemistry, Environmental Science, Materials, Chemical Engineering, and/or Chemistry and hone your skills as a PhD intern at a national laboratory widely recognized for its work in the physical sciences and environmental science, we want to connect with you. The ideal person has an interest in advancing measurement approaches and applying them to complex problems.

What you will do:

• Conduct independent research and work on team assignments
• Develop models to interpret hydrothermal liquid–rock reaction data
• Interact, communicate, and problem solve with a diverse team of research staff within the PCSD, EMSL, and across PNNL
• Contribute as a team member to support publications and reports led by other researchers
• Participate in manuscript development and maintain a strong overall publication record in the peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Present research at technical conferences and project/program review meetings

Details are below; you do not need to meet all of the preferred qualifications to be considered.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must be currently enrolled/matriculated in a PhD program in Chemistry, Geochemistry, or Materials Science at an accredited college.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Skills in wet chemistry; optical spectroscopy and data fitting.