Post Doctorate RA - Isotope Chemist/Geochemist/Mass Spectrometrist

About the role

The Radiochemistry Group within the Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Technologies Division of the National Security Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong ethic of service to the scientific community and a commitment to both scientific excellence and national impact on critical scientific and technical problems.

Responsibilities

• Support the goals of the Environmental Signatures Team, which encompasses impacts from anthropogenic processes, critical minerals/economic geology, and National Security applications such as nuclear safeguards and nuclear forensics.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and have access to state-of-the-art research equipment within several laboratories at PNNL.
• Willingness to learn and employ safe techniques for handling hazardous materials.
• Ability to work with colleagues in a dynamic laboratory environment on the implementation of experimental procedures.
• Experience working in a wet-chemistry laboratory around potentially hazardous acids, bases, and materials.
• Proficiency with standard office software, such as Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Strong written and oral communication skills as evidenced by scientific publication and conference presentations within the past five years.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
• Advanced level of knowledge and direct working experience on thermal ionization mass spectrometer or multi-collector ICP-MS instruments, including method development.
• Strong written and oral communication skills as evidenced by scientific publication and conference presentations within the past five years.
• The ideal candidate is a well-organized, self-starter, with a high capacity for attention to detail. Time management skills are essential to balance activities among several concurrently operating projects.

Requirements

• Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment: This position involves laboratory work with hazardous chemicals (acids, bases, etc.) and radioactive samples.
• Security Clearance: The candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing.

Benefits

• PNNL offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, telehealth care options, mental health benefits, wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.