Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country. Our organization fully supports service members transitioning from active duty to civilian life and pledge’s our commitment to actively hire veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Military personnel who have been formally trained or have relevant experience obtained while in service may meet educational requirements and are encouraged to apply for job opportunities at BSA.

Organizational Overview

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven is a DOE-funded national scientific user facility, offering users a supported research experience with top-caliber scientists and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation. The CFN mission is advancing nanoscience through frontier fundamental research and technique development and is the nexus of a broad collaboration network. Each year, CFN staff members support the research of nearly 600 external facility users.

Three strategic nanoscience themes underlie the CFN scientific facilities: The CFN conducts research on Nanomaterial Synthesis by Assembly, designing precise architectures with targeted functionality by organizing nanoscale components.  The CFN researches and applies platforms for state-of-the-art techniques for Accelerated Nanomaterial Discovery, integrating synthesis, advanced characterization, physical modeling, and computer science to iteratively explore a wide range of material parameters. The CFN develops and utilizes advanced capabilities for studies of Nanomaterials in Operando Conditions for characterizing materials and reactions at the atomic scale in real-world environments.

Position Description

The CFN is seeking an exceptional Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct research directed to data analytics for in situ/operando experiments utilizing state-of-the-art electron microscopy facilities. The post-doc will join the Electron Microscopy group.  The Electron Microscopy Group is composed of six permanent, scientific, and technical staff members and a set of five state-of-the-art electron microscopes optimized for in situ studies of nanomaterials (details online www.bnl.gov/cfn).  The Electron Microscopy Group is one of five scientific groups in the CFN, and supports the Electron Microscopy facility, which is the largest CFN scientific facility. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

As the post-doctoral research associate, you will have these roles and responsibilities:

• You will contribute to a multidisciplinary project involving several DOE user facilities focusing on the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) approaches to process and analyze transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images.
• You will employ deep learning to develop data pipelines to track material evolution and to perform event detection during in situ/operando TEM experiments with high spatial and temporal resolution.
• You will apply these methods for the extremely high-rate direct electron detector (DED) camera currently being installed on the CFN environmental TEM.
• You will be part of a team performing experiments with near real-time feedback and lead to the discovery of key physical processes emerging from the big data streams generated in research areas such as catalysis science.
• You will collaborate with scientific staff with diverse backgrounds including data analytics, electron microscopy, physical modeling, and materials theory.
• You will carry out impactful nanomaterial research, publish papers, and give external presentations on your work.

Position Requirements
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

You are qualified for this post-doc position if:

• You have earned a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related engineering discipline) within the past five years or will complete your degree prior to the starting date.
• You have demonstrated experience with the analysis or simulation of transmission electron microscopy or other scanned probe microscopy data.
• You have demonstrated experience developing data analytics tools using Python or other programming languages.
• Your experience is demonstrated through publications, GitHub repository records, or other public communications.
• You are committed to fostering an environment of safe scientific work practices.
• You are committed to cultivating an inclusive and respectful workplace environment.

You are well-matched to this position if: 

• You have experience with image segmentation, deep learning, or other machine learning techniques.
• You have hands-on experience in simulating images, EELS or diffraction for transmission electron microscopy, or other scanned probe microscopy techniques.
• You work effectively in an interdisciplinary team to tackle challenging scientific problems, particularly the application of data analytics to understand experimental results.
• You communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• You are committed to the dissemination of your results through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations/proceedings, and GitHub repository records or other public communications.

Environmental, Health & Safety Requirements

• May be required to become a qualified Radiation Worker and may be required to work in radiation areas.

Other Information:

• Occasional travel for attending conferences and presenting research papers both nationally and internationally
• The selected candidate will be placed at the appropriate level depending on the depth, breadth and relevant knowledge and skills.

At Brookhaven National Laboratory, we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Our benefits program includes, but is not limited to:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (vacation, holidays, sick leave, paid parental leave)
• 401(k) Plan
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• Tuition Assistance, Training and Professional Development Programs
• Employee Fitness/Wellness & Recreation:  Gym/Basketball Courts, Weight Room, Fitness Classes, Indoor Pool, Tennis Courts, Sports Clubs/Activities (Basketball, Tennis, Softball, Table Tennis)

Brookhaven Science Associates requires proof of a COVID-19 vaccination for all employees. Proof of full vaccination as recognized by the CDC and/or WHO is required at the start of your employment.

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is an equal opportunity employer that values inclusion and diversity at our Lab. We are committed to ensuring that all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a veteran, disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

BNL takes affirmative action in support of its policy and to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

*VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Brookhaven employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file