Postdoctoral Research Associate - Irradiation Materials Analysis

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Irradiation Materials Analysis

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will focus on material property testing, analysis, and modeling of reactor isotope production target materials. This involves the development of experimental plans to examine material properties such as thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion – material properties critical to understanding target behavior during irradiation in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR).

This could also involve development, validation, and deployment of new physical and analytical testing methods towards improving our understanding of unique target materials. You will be working with scientists, engineers, technicians, and safety and quality assurance staff to support material testing and fabrication efforts that advance HFIR isotope production targets. We are seeking a person who can be a team player with excellent attention to detail, critical thinking ability, and strong communication skills.

Supporting the largest radioisotope production and research portfolio within the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science for Isotope R&D and Production, as well as extensive isotope production programs for the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy and National Nuclear Safety Administration, this position will grant you the opportunity to work with rare nuclear materials, and the unique facilities at ORNL, including the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC), as you help guide the strategic growth of our isotope production enterprise.

This position will primarily support the Plutonium-238 Supply Program at ORNL that is responsible for producing plutonium-238 for NASA in support of powering deep space missions.

• Perform experimental and computational studies related to the development of neptunium targets within the Plutonium-238 Supply Program.
• Develop, validate, and deploy material property testing methodologies for the analysis of existing and new/advanced target designs. These methodologies principally include thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion but also could include other mechanical and chemical properties, as necessary.
• Support research and development on alternative target designs, including alternative material matrices for pressed cermet pellets, complex geometries of pellets, novel encapsulation methodologies, and other innovations utilizing advanced manufacturing.
• Publish scientific papers and internal reports resulting from this research and present results at the appropriate settings.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our cove values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Science.
• As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL’s Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct and a statement by the Lab Director’s office can be found here: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-integrity

• To be eligible you must have completed a PhD in materials science, chemistry, physics, engineering, or a related field with in the last 5 years.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

• Experience with experimental and computational approaches to characterizing thermophysical behavior of materials.
• Experience developing analytical descriptions of material systems to improve outcomes for application spaces.
• Experience with techniques for analysis of thermal transport properties such as laser flash diffusivity analysis, transient plane source method, dilatometry, and thermal analysis (DSC/TGA).
• Hands-on experience in materials characterization using tools such as particle size analysis, optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction.
• Strong understanding in fundamental metallic, ceramic, and hybrid materials science as well as some familiarity with a variety of manufacturing processes.
• Experience with advanced/additive manufacturing.
• Experience working in radiological environment.
• Experience in heat transfer…