Postdoctoral Research Associate - Ames National Laboratory

Position Title

About the role

The Critical Materials Innovation Hub (CMI), with Iowa State University at the Ames National Laboratory, a Department of Energy National Laboratory affiliated with Iowa State University, is searching for a qualified Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct experimental research in rare earth metallization, critical materials synthesis, materials processing, characterization, extraction, and recycling.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and process rare-earth-containing reaction mixtures, including mixing and pre-processing reactants, handling air- and moisture-sensitive materials, loading and sealing reactants in appropriate containers or crucibles, and performing high-temperature reactions using induction heating, tube furnaces, box furnaces, vacuum/inert atmosphere processing, or related thermal processing methods.
• Retrieve and separate products after reaction, including rare earth metal or alloy phases and salt/slag byproducts; evaluate metal–slag separation; analyze yields and impurities; and develop improved processing parameters for temperature, time, composition, atmosphere, additives, crucible/container materials, and mixing or stirring methods.
• Contribute to other ongoing and emerging CMI and Ames National Laboratory projects related to critical materials, including synthesis and processing of rare-earth-containing compounds, rare earth and transition-metal intermetallics, magnetic materials, magnet processing, magnet discovery, recycling of critical materials involving hydrometallurgical or wet-chemical recovery routes, mechanochemical synthesis or activation, and preparation of samples for projects involving process optimization, automation, and data-driven materials discovery.
• Develop, plan, and perform experiments; maintain detailed laboratory records; critically analyze experimental results; optimize processes to improve yield, purity, reaction completion, phase selectivity, and reproducibility; and generate reports, presentations, and manuscripts for publication.
• Work both independently and in a team setting with a diverse group of researchers, including collaborators at national laboratories, universities, and industry. The ability to handle multiple tasks, meet milestones, communicate results effectively, and contribute to quarterly progress reports is essential.

Requirements

• Ph.D. must be completed prior to start date.
• Preferred degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with high-temperature solid-state synthesis, metallothermic reactions, sealed-tube or sealed-container reactions, induction heating, vacuum, inert or reactive atmosphere processing in tube furnace, or related thermal processing methods.
• Strong understanding of phase diagrams, crystallography, CALPHAD, and chemistry of 4f elements is encouraged.
• Experience with acquiring and analyzing XRD data, including phase identification, qualitative and quantitative phase analysis by Rietveld refinement.
• Ability to interpret SEM/EDS, DSC/TGA, ICP-OES or ICP-MS, LECO O/H/N, XRF, magnetic property measurements, NMR, or related characterization data.
• Experience with mechanochemistry, ball milling, powder processing, or mechanically assisted synthesis is desirable.
• Experience with wet-chemistry or hydrometallurgical methods, extraction, or recycling of rare earths and other critical elements is also desirable.
• Able to communicate effectively through written reports, oral presentations, manuscripts, and interdisciplinary team discussions, and to work collaboratively while maintaining accurate laboratory records and meeting project milestones.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on expertise in materials synthesis, processing, and characterization.

Skills

• Hands-on experimental development of metallothermic routes for producing rare earth metals from rare earth compounds.
• Development, planning, and performance of experiments.
• Maintaining detailed laboratory records.
• Critically analyzing experimental results.
• Optimizing processes to improve yield, purity, reaction completion, phase selectivity, and reproducibility.
• Generating reports, presentations, and manuscripts for publication.
• Collaborative work with a diverse group of researchers.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental.
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans.
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa).
• Life insurance and long-term disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Voluntary benefits and discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Wellbeing program.

Pay

• Pay grade based on qualifications and experience.

Schedule

• Full-time, 12-month work period.