Ceramics Processing Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the role

The Ceramics Processing Science Team within Sigma-1 is seeking a post-doctoral candidate with experience in the processing and analysis of processing-structure-property relationships during processing of various ceramic materials such as oxides, nitrides, borides, or hydrides and composite materials. Our Team works in diverse areas including powder material analysis, synthesis, handling, and consolidation across a wide variety of materials. We support a wide variety of programs including Defense, Intelligence Agencies, and space programs along with other customers and University collaborations with an emphasis on identifying creative solutions to meet demanding requirements. We work in the Sigma Complex, a unique prototyping and fabrication facility that specializes in providing material, components, and manufacturing science to Los Alamos experimental programs.

Responsibilities

• Apply common characterization techniques including rheology, diffraction, microscopy, and mechanical testing which should be paired with other analytical techniques.
• Develop experimental plans which align with project needs and communicate effectively.
• Work independently, develop analytical methods, keep records in laboratory notebooks, and assist in reviewing documents essential for the operation of the facility and generating technical reporting.
• Assist in reviewing documents essential for the operation of the facility and generating technical reporting.

Requirements

• Proven ability to meet tight schedules (time management), organize and prioritize tasks for effective accomplishment of project goals.
• Hands-on experience with general chemical laboratory techniques and research and development of ceramic materials such as oxides, nitrides, borides, or hydrides.
• Experience with powder handling and processing including dispersant/binder formulation, spray drying, dry pressing, cold isostatic pressing, vacuum heat treatment, hydride reaction, chemical purification, hot pressing, and hot-isostatic-pressing.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to interact effectively with technical and operations personnel as a part of a team within a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Demonstrated academic publication record and an eagerness to document research results.
• Ability and willingness to follow safety and security procedures.

Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. in Ceramics, Materials Science, Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field. Must be within five years of completion of the Ph.D. at the time of being proposed for review by the committee, or must have satisfied all Ph.D. requirements by the commencement of the appointment.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize research projects to meet project schedules and deliverables.
• Proficiency in interfacing between experimental and engineering design and modeling efforts.
• An ability to adapt to new requirements for projects and be flexible enough to learn new areas of research as needed.
• Familiarity with other common powder fabrication methods is also desired, e.g. extrusion, gel casting, slip casting, compaction, milling and powder synthesis (sol gel, co-precipitation, solid state, hydrothermal, etc.).
• Experience writing research proposals for experimental facilities or in response to project funding calls.
• Experience designing, installing, and maintaining laboratory equipment.

Benefits

See Additional Details for information about benefits offered by the Laboratory.

Pay

Details about pay can be found in Additional Details.

Schedule

Details about schedule can be found in Additional Details.