Postdoctoral Appointee

Company: Sandia National Laboratories
Location: Albuquerque
Posted on: May 11, 2025

Job Description:

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 work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, 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.What Your Job Will Be Like:We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Appointee to conduct experimental chemical, electrochemical, and materials science R&D in two primary research areas. Area one involves novel chemistries and methods for the electrodeposition of exotic materials. Area two is electrochemical energy storage and conversion. The two areas are likely to be highly complementary, with significant conceptual and practical overlap. Furthermore, our team often spans the R&D spectrum from concept to device scale, and much of the work we engage in is unique and only possible at an institution like Sandia National Laboratories. If this excites you, consider this opportunity to join our team. You'll collaborate with accomplished scientists, use industry-leading equipment and facilities, contribute to national and global security needs, and gain compelling experience in preparation for a career in exciting and technologically relevant fields. On any given day, you may be called on to
  • Design and test novel synthesis for organic or inorganic materials
  • Design and operate electrochemical cells for custom electroanalytical measurements
  • Perform materials characterization using our in-house materials characterization capabilities
  • Incorporate AI models into data analysis
  • Perform experiments informed by mod/sim, using software like COMSOL
  • Contribute to preparation, publication, and presentation of scientific findings
  • The successful applicant will have opportunity to explore several chemical/electrochemical hypotheses, contribute to ideas and new hypotheses, and will be encouraged to develop new understandings in chemical, electrochemical, and characterization methodsDue to the nature of the work the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque, New Mexico Relocation will be provided for those that qualify.Qualifications We Require:
    • Possess, or are pursuing, a PhD in chemistry, materials science, physics or related scientific or engineering field, PhD must be conferred within five years prior to employment
    • Laboratory experience in chemical synthesis or electrochemical techniques
    • Able to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearanceQualifications We Desire:
      • That the candidate has defended their PhD by October of 2025
      • Experience with air-free handling techniques like glovebox and/or Schlenk Line use
      • Experience with electrochemical techniques
      • Experience with chemical synthesis (especially organometallic chemistry)
      • Experience with electrolyte chemistry
      • Experience with materials in-situ and/or ex-situ characterization
      • Experience with Matlab and/or Python programming (or related programming language)
      • An aptitude for/interest in building custom experimental platforms
      • Strong desire to publish scientific findingsAbout Our Team:The Nanoscale Sciences Department conducts collaborative leading-edge research that advances the understanding of materials at the nanoscale and enables the collaborative development of creative solutions for Sandia's broad and evolving National Security and Energy Missions. Our research activities have broad impact; we typically generate peer-reviewed, high-profile journal publications and presentations at professional scientific meetings.
        • Our main research focus is directed along three thrusts:
        • Electrochemical Materials Science and Applications (including energy storage, electrodeposition, and corrosion)Magnetic, Dielectric, and Electronic Materials Science and Applications (including ferroics and composites)
          • Nanostructured Materials Science and Applications (i.e., for hazardous materials capture/storage, sensing, membranes, water treatment, and catalysis)Posting Duration:This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.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.EEO: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.NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs. If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.Position Information: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.Job ID: 695557Job Family: 92Regular/Temporary Position: TFull/Part-Time Status: FRequired
            Preferred

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            • Other

Keywords: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque , Postdoctoral Appointee , Other , Albuquerque, New Mexico