Post Doctorate Research Associate - Material Engineer

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 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 Earth Systems Science Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, provides leadership and solutions that advance Earth system opportunities for energy systems and national security. We are a multidisciplinary division connected by a shared commitment to innovate and collaborate towards solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system.

The Integrated Sensors team within the Earth System Predictability & Resiliency Group of ESSD is seeking candidates to lead key tasks and support interdisciplinary projects including:

• Developing advanced sensing systems for earth system science and renewable energy. These next-generation sensors are not only fast, accurate, and versatile in terms of system performance but also lightweight, small, and soft. They can also be adapted for challenging environments such as deep subsurface and the Arctic environments, as well as for chemical detection.
• Studying the environmental impact of conventional hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy systems by detecting and tracking fish or other animals in the river or ocean using underwater acoustic telemetry.
• Studying and mitigating the environmental impact of wind energy by detecting and tracking bats and birds using radio telemetry.
• The primary scope of this position includes advanced sensing material design and testing, signal acquisition in laboratory settings and field environment, generation of intellectual properties, and writing of high-impact papers.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must have received a PhD in material science, engineering or related field within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with designing and testing sensing material.
• Experience in prototyping, fielding testing and demonstration.
• Solid understanding of principles and concepts of material science and engineering.
• Demonstrated record of scholarly publications, patent and/or proposal writing.
• Ability to effectively work and communicate within a multidisciplinary development team environment.
• Must be comfortable working in the field, including deploying equipment and testing in forested environments.

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…