Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher - Electron Microscopy of Thermal Energy Storage Systems

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Location
CO - Golden

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Position Type
Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week
40

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Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

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Job Description

The Analytical Microscopy and Imaging Sciences Group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leading research group in the fields of electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, and optical characterization of clean energy materials and devices. We are currently seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our team in electron microscopy characterization for a multi-institutional project on thermal energy storage materials.

 

The postdoctoral research project will focus on characterizing the impacts of structural and compositional heterogeneities on interfacial behavior and degradation mechanisms (corrosion, phase separation, thermal decomposition, and mechanical fractures) in thermal energy storage materials. Additionally, the research project may include opportunities to assist in the synthesis of thermal energy storage materials including molten salts, phase change materials, and thermochemical materials. Thermal energy storage materials will be investigated by studying ex-situ structure/property relationships, as well as operando  imaging of solid-solid and/or solid-liquid interfaces during supercooling and solidification processes. Microstructural and diffraction-based (4D-STEM, EBSD) imaging techniques will be used to monitor transformations upon thermal cycling. Localized chemical heterogeneities will be studied with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to identify impurity segregation, diffusion, oxidation state changes, and compositional gradients. The goal of this work is to gain fundamental insights on the primary degradation mechanisms that reduce the performance of thermal energy storage materials for long duration storage.

 

This postdoctoral position will provide access to state-of-the-art instrumentation in NREL’s new electron microscopy suite, including a Ga-FIB, two plasma FIBs, a Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra 200, and a JEOL GrandARM with high-temporal-resolution imaging and spectroscopy. The candidate should be self-motivated in research planning and progression, with guidance and mentorship provided by NREL staff scientists. In addition to collaborating with internal and external partners, the postdoctoral researcher will present scientific findings at domestic and international conferences and publish peer-reviewed articles.

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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in Scanning/Transmission Electron Microscopy (S/TEM)
• Experience in Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) for S/TEM
• Experience in TEM lift-out sample preparation using a Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB/SEM)
• Python scripting for experimental design and analysis

Preferred Qualifications

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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $71,300 - $117,600

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

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If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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