Responsibilities

The position will report directly within the Nuclear Material Processing (NMP) group, which resides within the National Security Directorate at PNNL.

The position will support several projects that are aligned around common themes of:

• Hands on wet chemistry operations involving lanthanides and actinides, particularly the transuranium elements Pu and Am.
• Radiochemistry separations processes, including hands-on anion and cation chromatography separations.
• Inorganic chemical or physical transformations, including redox chemistry, oxide conversation/dissolution, and synthesis.
• Analytical analyses include optical and vibrational spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction.

Research Associate will:

• Conduct independent research and work on team projects.
• Interact, communicate, and collaborate with a diverse team of research staff across PNNL.
• Present research at technical conferences and project/program review meetings.
• Contribute to the development of research proposals.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.
• Experience in bench, or actinide, or lanthanide chemistry.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in radiochemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry or related field.
• Well-versed in actinide or lanthanide chemistry.
• Experience with wet chemistry and anion/cation exchange chromatography.
• A track record for planning, conducting, and reporting experimental work is required as evidenced by a growing list of peer-reviewed publications.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

The incumbent must be able/willing to work with hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials.

The primary work location for this position is within the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory (RPL), a DOE hazard category 2 non-reactor nuclear facility, at PNNL. This unique research facility is supported by the DOE's Office of Science, and the primary mission is to conduct cutting edge research on actinides or other high-dose radioactive and nuclear materials.

Additional Information

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

A security clearance background investigation includes review of your employment, education, financial, and criminal history, as well as interviews with you and your personal references, neighbors, and co-workers to determine trustworthiness, reliability, and loyalty to the United States. The investigation also examines your foreign connections, drug and alcohol use, foreign influence, and overall conduct.

Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
• Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).

Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.

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 $69,000.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary

USD $119,100.00/Yr.