Post Doctorate RA - Autonomous Materials Synthesis and Characterization

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 Integrated Discovery Sciences Directorate (IDSD) leads fundamental research across biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, materials science, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, mathematics, autonomy, and DOE national user facilities. Our vision is to accelerate scientific discovery by observing, understanding, simulating, predicting, and controlling dynamic biotic-abiotic processes and interactions within complex biological, chemical, material, and Earth systems. We intentionally connect disciplines to advance fundamental discovery science, develop transformative scientific capabilities, and address the nation's most important challenges in energy, environmental resilience, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, health, and national security.

The Post Doctorate RA will support the development of autonomous experimental capabilities and lead a campaign aimed at integrating multiple laboratory instruments for solving research problems in materials science. The candidate will join a growing team of domain scientists (materials scientists, chemists, and engineers) working routinely with robotics, data, and AI scientists to develop autonomous materials synthesis, separations, characterization, and processing capabilities  addition to the capability development skills, we are interested in candidates who demonstrate scientific leadership and reasoning skills, a track record of hypothesis-driven research, and interest in fundamental science and discovery.

• In-lab synthesis and characterization:
  Leading experimental campaign using liquid-handling robots and high-throughput instruments for materials synthesis, characterization, and processing.
• Interfacing with AI, data, and robotics experts:
  Deploying agentic AI workflows developed in-house and providing feedback on performance to AI scientists; testing, validating, and using AI-generated code for operating instruments; interacting with robotics experts to identify needs for instrument integration.
• Scientific leadership:
  Identifying impactful problems and fundamental knowledge gaps that can be addressed using automated lab capabilities; designing and proposing hypothesis-based research problems in materials science.
• Communicating scientific and capability development results:
  Disseminating results in peer-reviewed publications; presenting at conferences; routinely updating various stakeholders; meeting deadlines; communicating with colleagues from both domain science and data science side of the project.

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:

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Nanoscience
• Experience in nanomaterials synthesis and characterization, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and scattering tools
• Experience in using and developing agentic AI workflows, operating and trouble-shooting high-throughput instruments
• Experience in communicating with both domain scientists and AI/data scientists

Not Applicable

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar…