Postdoctoral Research Associate - Biopolymer-Derived Ionic Materials and Interfaces

Requisition ID: 17322

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance synthesis and fundamental understanding of biopolymer-derived ionic materials and interfaces. The position resides in the Macromolecular Nanomaterials group at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) Division, Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and will be directly associated with the Harnessing Complex Macromolecular Conformations (HCMC) theme science research at the CNMS.

The successful candidate will develop renewable materials from bioderived macromolecules and hierarchical biological building blocks. The research will establish relationships among molecular structure, interfacial interactions, processing, morphology, dynamics, transport, and macroscopic material performance. Neutron scattering and imaging techniques will be central to investigating material structure and dynamics across bulk phases, buried interfaces, and transport pathways.

The candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment spanning organic chemistry, polymer and materials chemistry, soft-matter science, interfacial characterization, isotope labeling, and neutron science. The research may address mechanisms relevant to separations, catalysis, sustainable composites, coatings, membranes, hydrogels, and other energy- and environment-related applications. As part of our research team, the candidate will collaborate with a highly interdisciplinary team of scientists at the CNMS and across other divisions at ORNL, including researchers at ORNL’s world-leading neutron facilities. The successful candidate will have access to CNMS’s advanced capabilities in materials synthesis, processing, and characterization, as well as opportunities to collaborate with experts in computation, theory, and modeling. This position offers a distinctive research environment for integrating controlled materials synthesis with advanced characterization to investigate structure, dynamics, interfacial phenomena, and transport across multiple length and time scales.

Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, modify, and process biopolymer-derived ionic materials, including hydrogels, membranes, films, coatings, composites, porous materials, and functional interfaces.
• Investigate the effects of molecular interactions, surface chemistry, processing history, and hierarchical structure on material formation and performance.
• Develop experimental approaches to connect bulk and interfacial structure with solvent, water, ion, gas, or macromolecular transport.
• Apply neutron techniques such as small-angle neutron scattering, neutron reflectometry, quasi-elastic neutron scattering, neutron spectroscopy, and neutron imaging, as appropriate to the scientific questions.
• Use selective deuteration, contrast variation, and model material systems to resolve individual components and interfaces in multicomponent materials.
• Integrate neutron measurements with complementary characterization methods, potentially including X-ray scattering, spectroscopy, microscopy, thermal analysis, rheology, mechanical testing, surface analysis, and transport measurements.
• Develop quantitative structure–property–processing relationships and mechanistic models for biopolymer-derived materials.
• Collaborate with scientists at the CNMS, the Spallation Neutron Source, the High Flux Isotope Reactor, other ORNL research programs, universities, and industry.
• Contribute to the development of user proposals and beamtime proposals and support neutron experiments from sample preparation through data analysis and interpretation.
• Publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at scientific conferences, workshops, and project meetings.
• Maintain detailed experimental records and follow ORNL requirements for environmental protection, safety, health, and quality assurance.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace.

Requirements

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Bioengineering, or a closely related discipline completed within the last 5 years.
• Demonstrated experience in synthesis, modification, processing, or characterization of polymers, biopolymers, soft materials, or related functional materials.
• Experience designing and conducting laboratory experiments and analyzing quantitative research data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with polysaccharides, proteins, lignin, or other bioderived macromolecules, and fabrication of hydrogels, membranes, thin films, coatings, polymer composites, porous materials, or polymer-particle interfaces.
• Polymer functionalization, surface modification, controlled assembly, or materials processing.
• Water, solvent, ion, or gas transport in soft and porous materials.
• Interfacial phenomena, polyelectrolyte physics, diffusion, sorption, phase behavior, or nonequilibrium processing.
• Quantitative modeling or computational analysis of scattering, spectroscopy, imaging, or transport data.
• Scientific programming and data analysis using Python, MATLAB, Igor Pro, SasView, Mantid, or related software.
• A record of productive research demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.
• 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

• 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.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge. For employment at ORNL, a Real ID compliant form of identification is required. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.
• To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation, including a declaration of illegal drug activities (including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year). This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law regardless of state laws.
• For Foreign National Candidates: If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

Benefits

• Prescription Drug Plan
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• 401