The Science and Technology Integration group invites you to apply for a Postdoctoral Appointee Position within our Strategic Security Sciences Division (SSS). The group has a broad research portfolio applying radiochemistry expertise to national security problems. Activities within the group range from aqueous separations to particle transport and material characterization. We heavily collaborate with other groups at Argonne in the CFCT, PHY, BIO, NSE, and XPS divisions.

The Strategic Security Sciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory researches, develops, and implements practical approaches and technical solutions to address complex and enduring threats to national and global security. In our work on CBRN missions, we perform research and development, testing and evaluation, nuclear assessments and field work, nuclear emergency response, and integrating new science and technology. We leverage our experimental and technical capabilities in generating novel research and response for national security objectives.

In this role you will:

Lead tests to investigate the chemical behavior of radionuclides including separation and purification of radionuclides, radionuclide transport, and radioactive decontamination methodologies.

Assist in experiments to quantify the transport of dissolved and particulate radioactive contaminants through porous media.

Assist in the design, construction, and evaluation of detectors with high analytical sensitivity to quantify radioactive and elemental noble gases.

Select nonproliferation projects requiring chemistry and/or radiochemistry expertise as directed.

Responsibilities include:

Review literature.

Develop project goals and design relevant experiments.

Draft appropriate work control (safety) documents.

Contribute to technical analyses via written reports.

Collect and analyze experimental data.

Summarize the results in the form of a draft peer-reviewed paper or government report.

Develop new ideas in the areas of need identified by various federal agencies including DOE, DOD, DHS, and EPA.

Position Requirements

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

This level of knowledge is typically achieved through a formal education in chemistry, radiochemistry, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field at the PhD level with zero to five years of employment experience.

Desire to publish results as peer-reviewed literature.

Problem-solving skills and a self-starter with a strong work ethic. 

Innovative thinking capable of generating novel ideas to difficult problems.

Good communication skills. 

Programming language experience.

Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

Ability to make our laboratory a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environment where all can thrive

Selected candidate will be required to obtain and maintain a Q clearance and must be a U.S. citizen. Please see http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm for more information about requirements for obtaining a security clearance process.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

Wet chemistry laboratory experience (e.g., solvent extraction, ion exchange, extraction chromatography).

Experience working with radioactive materials.

Knowledge of analytical instrumentation and methodology.

Knowledge of (ideally experience using) synchrotron analysis techniques.

Experience using design software (e.g. Ansys Discovery, SolidWorks).

Job Family

Postdoctoral Family

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis.  Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.  Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.