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Postdoctoral Research Associate- High Temperature Corrosion

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
life insurance, parental leave, 401(k), retirement plan, relocation assistance
United States, Tennessee, Oak Ridge
1 Bethel Valley Road (Show on map)
Mar 31, 2025

Requisition Id14746

Overview:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will support the Corrosion Science and Technology (CST) Group in the Materials in Extremes section, Materials Science and Technology Division (MSTD), located in the Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The position focuses on the development of physics-based material degradation and lifetime assessment models for high temperature materials and coatings. As a postdoc, you will employ state-of-the-art technology, research equipment and computational resources to enable the next generation of high efficiency power generation and transportation.

As part of our research team, you will coordinate laboratory work on high temperature oxidation in various environments (e.g., steam, hydrogen, liquid metals, molten salts) to assist in the development of the next generation of power generation and transportation technologies. An important aspect of the research will be developing multiscale material degradation models that will cater to the need to develop new alloys and provide reliable lifetime assessment for existing materials as a function of application-specific operating conditions.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate and/or conduct laboratory high temperature oxidation experiments in controlled environments.
  • Develop material degradation and lifetime assessment models for long-term applications.
  • Communicate and coordinate experimental results with other organizations to facilitate collaborations.
  • Use range of analysis techniques to characterize the performance of metallic and ceramic specimens exposed in extreme environments (e.g., hydrogen, liquid metals and molten salts).
  • Coordinate and/or conduct microstructural characterization activities with other organizations.
  • Present and report research results and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
  • Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements.
  • Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. in materials science or a related field completed within the last 5 years.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • A minimum of 2 years of experience in high temperature materials research after Ph.D.
  • An excellent record of productive and creative research as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Demonstrated experience and understanding of the basic principles of high temperature oxidation research.
  • Experience utilizing microstructural characterization tools including, but not limited to, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis and transmission electron microscopy.
  • Experience with computational thermodynamics tools (e.g., FactSage, Thermo-Calc).
  • Experience with predictive modeling of material performance in extreme environments.
  • Experience with coding (e.g., C++, Python, Fortran).
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
  • Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Special Requirements:

Postdocs: Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

Letters of Recommendation:

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

  • Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
  • View Profile
  • Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

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