Postdoctoral Research Associate – Advanced Separation and Purification, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), USA

Summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Soft Materials and Membranes Group in the Chemical Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD). The role centers on developing energy-efficient, cost-effective membrane and sorbent materials and processes for energy applications, including critical materials recovery, gas separation, and bioenergy precursors.

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Advanced Separation and Purification

Designation

• Position Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate – Advanced Separation and Purification
• Requisition ID: 16936
• Appointment Length: Up to 24 months (with potential for extension based on performance and funding availability)

Overview Table

Research Area

• Advanced Separations and Purification Science
• Membrane- and Sorbent-Based Separation Processes
• Critical Materials Recovery (Rare-earth elements, semiconductor & battery materials)
• Gas Separation & Bioenergy Applications
• Hollow-Fiber/Spiral-Wound Membrane Fabrication and Process Scale-Up

Location

• City/State: Oak Ridge, TN, US, 37830

Eligibility / Qualification

Basic Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Degree must have been completed within the last 5 years prior to the application date, and all degree requirements must be completed before starting the appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong foundation in separation science, materials chemistry/engineering, and polymer chemistry.
• Hands-on experience designing, synthesizing, fabricating, characterizing, and testing separation materials.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Membrane- or sorbent-based separations.
  • Hollow-fiber or spiral-wound membrane-module fabrication and process scale-up.
  • Filtration, solvent/liquid-liquid extraction, solid-liquid/gas-liquid separations, membrane contactors, adsorption, or packed-column systems.
  • Recovery/purification of critical materials from mined resources or electronic waste.
• Proven track record of research productivity (peer-reviewed publications, patents, conference presentations).
• Strong independent research, collaborative teamwork, and written/verbal communication skills.

Special Requirements

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card (requires passing a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation).
• Foreign nationals who have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years must obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination.

Job Description

Major Duties & Responsibilities

• Research Execution: Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative membrane/sorbent materials and processes for energy applications, including critical materials recovery and bioenergy separations.
• Proposal & Project Development: Help originate new research directions and contribute to competitive proposals for external funding.
• Dissemination: Publish research outcomes in peer-reviewed scientific journals, author technical reports, and present at national/international conferences.
• Intellectual Property: Prepare invention disclosures and contribute to patent applications when applicable.
• Compliance & Core Values: Comply with environmental, safety, health, and quality (ESH&Q) standards while exemplifying ORNL’s core values (Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service).

How to Apply

1. Submit Application: Apply online through the ORNL Careers Portal (Requisition ID: 16936).
2. Accepted Document Formats: Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe PDF (.pdf), RTF (.rtf), or HTML (.html) up to 5MB.
3. Letters of Recommendation: Submit three (3) letters of reference either by:
   • Uploading directly to your candidate profile under “My Documents” > “Add a Document”, or
   • Having referees email them directly to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and requisition ID (16936) in the subject line.
4. Accommodation Inquiries: If assistance is needed due to a disability, contact ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

Last Date for Apply

• Open Until Filled

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