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Postdoctoral Appointee: Microscopist to Analyze Defects in Crystalline Materials

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

We are seeking a postdoctoral appointee to investigate defect microstructures in crystalline materials. You will conduct experimental studies using advanced transmission electron microscopy and associated techniques to investigate dislocations, grain boundaries, and related crystalline defects. You will utilize Sandia’s ThermoFisher ThemisZ Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope. This is a probe-corrected instrument that is well-equipped with state-of-the-art imaging, diffraction, and spectroscopic capabilities. Potential research areas include strain accommodation mechanisms at interfaces, evolution of dislocation cell-walls and related deformation microstructures, deformationa and phase-transformations mechanisms in hydrogen structural materials, and radiation effects on interfaces and defect generation. You will work in a multi-disciplinary environment that will provide opportunities for collaboration with specialists in a wide range of experimental techniques and materials modeling approaches. You will be responsible for conducting rigorous and innovative microscopic analyses, bringing deep materials expertise to selected problems, and documenting research findings in the form of external, peer-reviewed journal publications.

Please provide a CV that includes a list of publications and contact information for at least three references and a cover letter (2-page maximum) addressing their qualifications and research interests relevant to this position.

Department Description:

The Energy Nanomaterials Department is a research organization specializing in the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials for energy and national security applications. Projects and capabilities in the department's research portfolio include nanoporous materials for sensing, catalysis, energy harvesting, and gas storage; materials for energy and hydrogen storage; and nanoscale materials characterization including extensive electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, nanoindentation instrumentation, and X-ray diffraction.

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

  • Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
  • Extraordinary co-workers
  • Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
  • Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
  • Flexible schedules, generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

Required:

  • Ph.D. in materials science, chemistry, physics, materials engineering, or a closely related discipline.
  • Experience applying transmission electron microscopy to the nanoscale analysis of materials.
  • A distinguished record of scientific research accomplishment, as demonstrated by authorship of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoE Q security clearance.

Desired:

  • Experience using TEM and/or STEM for high-resolution and diffraction contrast imaging, diffraction, and chemical spectroscopies (e.g., EDS or EELS).
  • Experience in writing and documenting code for data analysis, particularly in applications for quantitative image processing.
  • A foundational understanding of crystallography and crystal defects.
  • Strong laboratory skills in TEM specimen preparation methods and in other materials characterization techniques.

Security Clearance:

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.