Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher—Photoelectrocatalysis

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The Materials, Chemical, and Computational Sciences Directorate has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to support the next generation of photo(electro)catalysis research.

This project will be focused on understanding the fundamentals of photo(electro)chemical transformations – such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), or nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) – using emerging inorganic semiconductor materials in thin-film configurations. This position will be supported by DOE Basic Energy Science Programs funded at NLR.

The position will involve characterization of novel semiconductor materials and architectures as photoelectrodes to identify defects, probe reaction mechanisms, and tune optoelectronic and catalytic properties. Potential strategies for tuning the resulting properties will require experience with chemical treatments/additives, atomic or molecular doping, surface functionalization, and/or strain engineering. To understand the impact of these manipulations on catalytically active semiconductor systems, the candidate will be engaged in team science that leverages in situ steady-state (UV-vis, IR, Raman, PL) and time-resolved (IR, transient absorption) spectroscopies, microscopy (Confocal Raman/PL, AFM), and product detection (mass spectrometry, gas chromatography) tools to probe the fundamental optoelectronic properties, reaction mechanisms, and material stability/durability. The successful candidate should therefore have experience in one or more of these characterization techniques and have a passion for devising experiments to deeply understand systems, not optimize them for performance.

The successful applicant will be invested in working in a cross-disciplinary team of material scientists, chemists, spectroscopists, and theorists to probe and understand surfaces, interfaces, and durability of newly developed chemistries and architectures. They should have proven expertise in data analysis, experimental design, presentations, and writing of manuscripts. The initial appointment is for 1 year with extension of up to 3 years total preferred, provided mutual satisfaction and availability of funds.

Please include a cover letter to complete your application.

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Basic Qualifications

Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Material Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related fields.
• Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publication, and communication.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates should have direct experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Photoelectrocatalysis, electrocatalysis, or photocatalysis, particularly for fuel-forming reactions such as CO2R, NO3RR, HER, or OER

• Spectroscopic or other characterization of (photo/electro)catalysts and/or modified materials surfaces

• Strategies for establishing the stability of new materials exposed to electrolyte and during catalytic operation

• Semiconductor device physics

• Characterization of the optoelectronic properties of semiconductors

Additional experience in semiconductor photoelectrochemistry, spectro-electrochemistry, thin film or nanoparticle synthesis and surface modification, and other interfacial characterization techniques would be a benefit.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

E -Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify For information about right to work

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