Responsibilities

DOE's Office of Environmental Management Graduate Fellowship Program is seeking graduate fellows to work on some of the nation's greatest cleanup efforts. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to collaboration and work-life balance. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven interns come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

Cleanup of highly complex waste, contaminated soil, and groundwater is one of the Department of Energy's most important environmental challenges. The Environmental Management (EM) Graduate Fellowship Program (EMGFP) provides recent graduates with an opportunity to conduct hands-on research that supports the mission of DOE's Office of EM.

The Ion Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials (IDREAM) Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) is exploring the complex chemical phenomena to enable innovations in retrieving and processing radioactive tank waste. Our team works to master the fundamental chemistry in complex environments characterized by extremes in alkalinity, low-water activity, and chemical phenomena driven far from equilibrium by ionizing radiation, all of which are characteristics of legacy radioactive tank waste. The fundamental knowledge from IDREAM's efforts will aid in accelerating the processing of legacy radioactive waste stored in underground tanks at the DOE's Hanford and Savannah River Sites.

Central to IDREAM's work is determining the solubility, precipitation/dissolution mechanisms, and aggregation behavior of gibbsite, Al(OH)3, and other aluminum bearing mineral phases. In the tanks, aluminum is present in both the solid phase and the tank supernatant. Though it is not the most prominent element in the radioactive tank waste, aluminum presents a major problem due to its unpredictable precipitation and aggregation behavior, which becomes especially problematic upon removal of the waste from its storage tanks and transportation for final processing and disposal. In addition to aluminum, the tank waste is highly alkaline, and rich in nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, low molecular weight organics, and redox active species. Additionally, the waste has been exposed to decades of ionizing radiation, driving the chemistry far from equilibrium. All of which further complicates the predictive understanding of tank chemistry required for the successful processing of radioactive tank waste.

As a graduate research fellow, you will become an integral member of the IDREAM EFRC. IDREAM is a multi-institution interdisciplinary team working to master the fundamental chemistry in complex environments characterized by extremes in alkalinity and low water activity related to the chemistry underpinning the successful processing of radioactive tank waste. IDREAM also features a highly involved Early Career Network to assist you in your career development and scientific skills.

You will specialize in conducting experiments to: (i) determine the role of co-dissolved species, such as phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite, in enhancing gibbsite solubility in nuclear tank waste; (ii) determine the role of ionizing radiation on the structure of solutions containing phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite; and (iii) evaluate the role of solution structure, co-dissolved organics, and ionizing radiation on the oxidation state of dissolved redox active species. You will leverage a variety of experimental techniques available at PNNL, including vibrational spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, and optical microscopy, among others, while taking advantage of world-class expertise and capabilities to meet your research goals. You will also lead and contribute to manuscript development as a member of the IDREAM team.

If you are ready to test your talents and training in solving the underlying fundamental chemistry in nuclear tank waste, we want to connect with you. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply; you do not need to meet all the Preferred Qualifications to be considered.

Due to sponsor funding requirements outlined in the MSIPP-EM SOW, eligibility for this position is limited to candidates who graduated with their undergrad or masters at a Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must have received a Master's degree within the past 24 months or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Chemistry, Geochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field.
• Previous work in a chemical laboratory setting.
• Experience in developing manuscripts, reports, and presentations .
• Expertise in one or more of the following techniques: Vibrational spectroscopies, ICP-OES, X-ray scattering, Electron microscopy, and Optical microscopy.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Working in labs with potential hazardous materials.

Testing Designated Position

This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The candidate selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the PNNL Workplace Substance Abuse Program.

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

* Research Associates excluded.

**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

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Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $80,500.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary

USD $104,700.00/Yr.