Research Scientist in Materials Science and Engineering

About the role

The Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia seeks a Research Scientist (RS) to facilitate and advance sponsored research programs in two or three key topic areas, as well as other high-priority scientific research areas.

Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize and heat treat multi-principal element alloys.
• Utilize Python, CALPHAD, and ML methods for high-throughput analysis.
• Design alloys, synthesize and verify structure and composition by multiple methods.
• Conduct ML studies on down-selected alloys that meet phase stability criteria to identify compositions with the desired properties, including but not limited to corrosion.
• Work with materials experts to obtain corrosion electrochemical properties by conducting LSV, EIS, Passivation, and XPS.
• Partner and collaborate with materials experts to conduct CSRO and TTO-C analysis on solid solution alloys using a variety of tools.
• Perform and analyze high-fidelity corrosion studies on select alloys in molten salts or other harsh environments.
• Investigate the protection of high-value, lightweight, high-strength substrates susceptible to local corrosion such as IGSCC, and other forms of localized corrosion that degrade the substrate.
• Investigate the protection afforded by mitigation strategies over long exposure times using ALT.
• Investigate corrosion mitigation strategies targeted at complex, high-strength, low-weight alloys, such as Al-Mg microstructure.
• Investigate hydrogen interactions in high-strength materials introduced electrochemically.
• Conduct experiments to assess diffusible, trapped, and total hydrogen content and effective and perfect lattice diffusion coefficients.
• Conduct diagnostic experiments to determine whether permeation is surface- or bulk-controlled.
• Extend controlled potential and current experiments to studies of protective coatings that may accelerate or inhibit hydrogen production, d absorption.
• Include HER studies and permeation by the D-S method.
• Analyze and interpret data in metallurgy, corrosion, and corrosion electrochemistry, and write papers and progress reports for sponsors.
• Supervise and provide experimental research method training analysis to BS, MS, and PhD level materials science and engineering students working on the same or closely related projects as the RS.
• Conduct multiple projects concurrently and possess extensive technical skills and experience with various experimental electrochemical techniques, including AC and DC electrochemistry, such as cyclic polarization, LSV, such as EIS, SVET, SKP, SDC, and SECM.
• Be familiar with characterization methods, such as SEM/EDS, XRD, EBSD, XPS, ICP-OES, optical profilometry, and Raman.
• Write proposals to attract sponsored research and, when appropriate, to support the acquisition of experimental equipment.
• Provide both oral and written progress reports to sponsors and play a key role in mentoring graduate students and supervising undergraduate researchers.

  Qualifications

  • A doctoral degree or a master’s degree with significant experience, in Materials Science and Engineering with a thesis dissertation emphasizing corrosion and metallurgy or closely related to these are required.
  • A PhD is preferred.
  • Prior research experience as a postdoctoral researcher at a research university or evidence of success on three or more past projects.
  • Demonstrate good written and oral English language skills to interact with various sponsors.
  • Show good record keeping, strong analytical skills, and previous experience mentoring junior researchers (undergraduate and graduate students).

    Contact Information

    To apply, please visit https://jobs.virginia.edu/us and search for R0082328. Attach the following documents: a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box.