Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Post Doctorate RA - Isotope Chemist/Geochemist/Mass Spectrometrist

Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. within the last 5 years or expected in 8 months from an accredited institution.
  • 2 years of relevant experience preferred.
  • Expertise in thermal ionization mass spectrometry or multi-collector ICP-MS, including method development.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, evidenced by recent publications and presentations.
  • Well-organized self-starter with attention to detail and time management skills.

Responsibilities

  • Support the Environmental Signatures Team on anthropogenic impacts and nuclear applications.
  • Conduct mass spectrometry and radiochemistry experiments in a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Implement clean lab techniques for hazardous materials handling.
  • Troubleshoot and develop methods for TIMS, MC-ICP-MS, or ICP-MS instruments.
  • Collaborate on experimental procedures in a dynamic laboratory environment.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • Access to mental health services and wellness coaching.
  • Tuition assistance and relocation support available.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts offered.
  • Automatic enrollment in a company-funded pension plan with 401(k) match.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

The Radiochemistry Group is seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong ethic of service to the scientific community and a commitment to both scientific excellence and national impact on critical scientific and technical problems.

This opening is to support the goals of the Environmental Signatures Team, which broadly encompasses impacts from anthropogenic processes (including investigations of contaminant fate and transport), critical minerals/economic geology, and National Security applications such as nuclear safeguards and nuclear forensics.

The candidate should have significant, hands-on experience with mass spectrometry and/or radiochemistry. Pertinent mass spectrometry experience includes TIMS (P-TIMS and/or N-TIMS), MC-ICP-MS, or ICP-MS. Experience with multiple isotope systems and radiochronometry is preferred. Additional skills that would be of value include clean lab work, experience with multiple dissolution techniques, separations work using ion or solvent exchange, or distillation, and use of laser ablation (LA-ICP-MS) or LIBS.

The successful candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and will have access to state-of-the-art research equipment within several laboratories at PNNL. Applicants must be willing to learn and employ safe techniques for handling hazardous materials. Candidates must be able to work with colleagues in a dynamic laboratory environment on the implementation of experimental procedures.

The candidate is expected to have a Ph.D. in geochemistry, isotope geology, radiochemistry, analytical or nuclear chemistry, or a related field. The incumbent must have experience working in a wet-chemistry laboratory around potentially hazardous acids, bases, and materials. Candidates are expected to be proficient with standard office software, such as Microsoft Excel and Word. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are also required and must be demonstrated via a strong publication record in peer reviewed journals.

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.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Ph.D. with 2 years of relevant experience.
  • Advanced level of knowledge and direct working experience on thermal ionization mass spectrometer or multi-collector ICP-MS instruments, including method development.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills as evidenced by scientific publication and conference presentations within the past five years.
  • The ideal candidate is a well-organized, self-starter, with a high capacity for attention to detail. Time management skills are essential to balance activities among several concurrently operating projects.


Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

  • This position involves laboratory work with hazardous chemicals (acids, bases, etc.) and radioactive samples.

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.

Click Here For Rockstar Rewards

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.

About Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory that conducts research and development in areas including energy, environment, and national security. PNNL is operated by Battelle Memorial Institute and is located in Richland, Washington. The laboratory was established in 1965 as the Battelle Northwest Laboratory and was renamed to its current name in 1997. PNNL has a staff of over 4,000 scientists, engineers, and support staff, and has an annual budget of over $1 billion. The laboratory has been involved in a number of high-profile projects, including the development of the first artificial heart and the cleanup of the Hanford Site, a decommissioned nuclear production complex.
Learn more about Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1965

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Post Doctorate RA - Isotope Chemist/Geochemist/Mass Spectrometrist jobs: