AddressRequisition Id 12203
Overview:
As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to help advance our understanding of Quantum Materials through experimental studies of bulk single crystals in our Correlated Quantum Materials Project. The position resides in the Correlated Electron Materials Group in the Materials Science and Technology Division, Physical Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This project uses crystal growth and physical property measurements to develop, understand, and control new and emerging Quantum Materials. Much of the work emphasizes magnetism and quasi-2D systems. Some aspects of the project directly address topology while others emphasize electron correlations, and the most interesting physics problems often involve an intersection of the two.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
As part of our team, you will have opportunities for self-directed research in areas aligning with our priorities. You will be expected to lead your own synthesis, measurements, and analysis efforts to characterize the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of bulk materials, develop an understanding of their underlying physics, and tune them toward their most interesting ground states and behaviors. You will be expected to lead the writing of research papers resulting from your work with support from the group and collaborators in a timely manner. Teamwork within the group is a critical aspect of our research, and the group has strong skills in materials synthesis, particularly single crystal growth, and characterization. At the same time, much of our work relies on collaborations with researchers outside of our group from diverse backgrounds, within and external to ORNL, including condensed matter theorists and scientists performing neutron scattering and various spectroscopies and microscopies. The ideal candidate will be well suited for working safely and independently within a supportive group setting. Contributions to synergistic projects at ORNL are also expected, to bolster overall scientific impact and benefit the candidate’s own professional development by refining and expanding experimental skills and collaborations.
Other Responsibilities:
- Present research results at scientific conferences
- Help maintain Quantum Design measurement systems and general lab space and equipment
- Keep an orderly and informative laboratory workspace and notebook
- Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements
- Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.
Basic Qualifications:
- PhD in physics, applied physics, material science, chemistry, chemical or electrical engineering, or a related discipline completed within the last five years.
- Background in experimental materials physics research, including materials synthesis and laboratory-based characterization of physical properties (magnetic, transport, crystallographic, thermal, optical).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with the health and safety hazards associated with an experimental condensed matter laboratory that houses an extensive synthesis effort.
- A demonstrated ability to report scientific outcomes and drive projects towards emerging directions.
- A demonstrated ability to apply complementary characterization techniques to understand the nature and origins of correlated and/or topological phenomena.
- Experience with characterization and analysis of thermodynamic properties associated with magnetism or superconductivity.
- Experience with single crystal growth of inorganic materials
- Familiarity with the characterization and analysis of transport properties (electrical, thermal, galvanomagnetic, thermomagnetic, thermoelectric).
- Experience operating and maintaining Quantum Design instruments
- 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
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 for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.
Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.
Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:
- Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
- View Profile
- Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document
Benefits at ORNL:
ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.
Other benefits include: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.
If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.
