Description

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a hardworking and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Appointee to join our team of scientists performing fundamental research and development in the field of polymer materials science, additive manufacturing, and extreme environments. In this position you will be expected to lead at least one experimental program, while working with staff members, students, and technologists using a range of techniques to develop, characterize, and print advanced polymer materials. Applicants should be experienced in polymer materials synthesis, formulation, and characterization and be experienced in 3D printing techniques. Experience with several additional topics development and characterization of photoactive chemistries and materials, characterization of materials at high deformation rates, microencapsulation techniques, crosslinked and elastomeric material physics, and hardware development will also be considered a plus, but not required. This position will operate as part of a dynamic team including multiple organizations and will require independent problem solving as well as cooperative teamwork and mentorship. A successful candidate will be expected to contribute and execute innovative research ideas, communicate research results to PIs and program managers, present your research at various internal and external forums and conferences, participate in program meetings, and publish your research in peer-reviewed journals. You will be provided with the opportunity to mentor students and to seek funding for additional research topics with the guidance and support of your mentor.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Perform polymer and/or materials synthesis, functionalization, and characterization, and develop and characterize new formulation chemistries to enable control of polymerization processes with time, temperature, light, and other external stimuli
• Utilize rheology, spectroscopy, and NMR to characterize physicochemical processes relevant to additive manufacturing (AM) and other polymer processing techniques
• Develop novel AM processes and materials, with particular emphasis on direct-ink-write AM monitoring and control techniques
• Characterize the thermal and mechanical properties of fabricated materials, including by conventional quasi-static loading and non-traditional dynamic loading techniques
• Perform 2-4 step organic synthesis of custom monomers or catalysts
• Explore and apply various microencapsulation methods to achieve polymerization control
• Project needs may require using conventional instrumentation in unconventional manners, augmenting existing instrumentation, developing new apparatus or accessories, and developing data analysis and instrument feedback controls
• Collaborate with engineers to translate research discoveries to improve products and product performance relevant to applications of importance for national security
• Perform basic lab and equipment maintenance
• Expertise in all of the above areas is not expected, but excitement about learning new techniques and the ability to master new skills quickly will be needed!
  

This position has a targeted start date in Fall 2025.

Due to the nature of the work the selected applicant must be able to work onsite in Albuquerque, New Mexico Relocation will be provided for those that qualify.

Qualifications We Require

• Possess, or are pursuing, a PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering or a related STEM field, PhD must be conferred within five years prior to employment
• Experience in polymer, organic, or materials synthesis and characterization
• Able to acquire and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with additive manufacturing of polymers, particularly crosslinked and/or elastomeric materials
• Experience developing or characterizing photochemistries
• Experience with a broad range of materials characterization and mechanical testing techniques (DSC, TGA, rheology, DMA, IR, NMR, UV-Vis, etc.)
• Experience with dynamic and high-rate materials characterization, such as drop tower, impact testing, or ballistics
• Experience with microencapsulation of reactive compounds
• Experience with hardware development related to additive manufacturing, characterization techniques, or other testing equipment
• Strong work ethic and ability to contribute as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to rapidly learn new skills and work in a fast-paced environment
• A dedication to producing high-quality results using good laboratory techniques and focused attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong publication record
• Interest in mentoring undergraduate or graduate students
  

About Our Team

The Organic Materials Science Department 1853 researches and develops new and advanced materials and processing strategies to meet a wide range of specialized applications in nuclear weapons, national security and industrial applications. Our department is dedicated to scientific discovery, creativity, innovation and practical solutions for our diverse customers. The department specializes in aging science and predictive performance of polymers, synthetic organic and polymer chemistry, thermal, mechanical, chemical, and physical characterization of organic materials, and advanced manufacturing of polymers. We perform reliability studies for polymers with an emphasis on understanding degradation mechanisms, structure-property relationships, and performance margins. Current areas of R&D in the department include: developing novel encapsulant materials, creating new thermoset chemistries for additive manufacturing, developing innovative NMR techniques to understand transport phenomena in polymers, measuring and optimizing electrical performance of polymer dielectrics, elucidating the interdependency of chemical change and polymer physics over long timeframes, creating reversible and degradable chemistries, understanding polymer interfacial properties and adhesion, measuring and predicting radiation effects on polymers, monitoring of reactive thermoset cure kinetics, and quantifying permeation behavior and spatially dependent degradation processes. We perform a complete spectrum of chemical, structural, thermal, rheological, and mechanical characterization of polymeric materials that must perform over 30 - 40 year lifetimes.

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Position Information

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.