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Postdoctoral Research Associate - Ames National Laboratory

Ames, IA · Full-time

Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 25 days ago
SEMProcess ImprovementHRResearchPublic Speaking

About the role

  • The successful candidate will work with Principal Investigators, CMI scientists, and project collaborators on projects related to critical materials synthesis and processing.
  • The primary focus of this position will be hands-on experimental development of metallothermic routes for producing rare earth metals from rare earth compounds, including oxides, chlorides, and fluorides.
  • The successful candidate will contribute to other ongoing and emerging CMI and Ames National Laboratory projects related to critical materials.

Responsibilities

  • This work builds on the "Ames Process" for rare earth metallization and seeks to develop lower-temperature metallothermic approaches that improve yield, purity, metal-slag separation, scalability, and overall process efficiency.
  • The researcher will retrieve and separate products after reaction, including rare earth metal or alloy phases and salt/slag byproducts; evaluate metal-slag separation; analyze yields and impurities; and develop improved processing parameters for temperature, time, composition, atmosphere, additives, crucible/container materials, and mixing or stirring methods.
  • The work will include developing, planning, and performing experiments; maintaining detailed laboratory records; critically analyzing experimental results; optimizing processes to improve yield, purity, reaction completion, phase selectivity, and reproducibility; and generating reports, presentations, and manuscripts for publication.

Requirements

  • Ph.D. must be completed prior to start date.

Nice to have

  • Preferred degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Strong understanding of phase diagrams, crystallography, CALPHAD, and chemistry of 4f elements is encouraged.
  • Experience with acquiring and analyzing XRD data, including phase identification, qualitative and quantitative phase analysis by Rietveld refinement.
  • Ability to interpret SEM/EDS, DSC/TGA, ICP-OES or ICP-MS, LECO O/H/N, XRF, magnetic property measurements, NMR, or related characterization data.
  • Experience with mechanochemistry, ball milling, powder processing, or mechanically assisted synthesis is desirable.
  • Experience with wet-chemistry or hydrometallurgical methods, extraction, or recycling of rare earths and other critical elements is also desirable.
  • Department Unit/Website (if applicable):
  • Application Instructions:

Compensation

  • Number of Months Employed Per Year:

Benefits

  • Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
  • Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
  • Life insurance and long-term disability
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Various voluntary benefits and discounts
  • Wellbeing program

Equal opportunity

  • Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran.
  • Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel.
  • 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
  • General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website.
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