Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher- Thin Film Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Nitride Semiconductors for Solar Energy Conversion and Fuel Generation
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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 NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
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Job Description
The materials discovery and design team in the materials science center has an opening for an experimental postdoctoral researcher in the area of synthesis and characterization of ternary inorganic nitride materials. The position would involve synthesis, characterization, and processing of thin film nitride materials deposited using physical vapor deposition approaches such as sputtering and MBE. The position would support a collaborative basic-science project aimed to improve nitride photoabsorbers, including investigation of optoelectronic and catalytic properties for solar fuel generation. The job duties would also include setting up and maintaining existing experimental equipment and improving/creating data collection and analysis software. The successful applicant will be invested in working in a diverse team of scientists on materials discovery and design, as well as materials applications, to probe and understand the properties of newly developed materials as well as their use as photoabsorbers.
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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 or related fields
Candidates should have at least a few of the following:
- Prior hands-on experience with thin film synthesis based on physical vapor deposition processes such as reactive sputtering or molecular beam epitaxy.
- Expertise in novel chemical spaces, underexplored materials chemistries, and/or metastable materials (e.g., nitrides, phosphides, complex chalcogenides, etc.).
- In-depth knowledge of one or several materials optoelectronic property measurement methods, such as photoconductivity, time-resolved photoluminescence, transient absorption spectroscopy , etc.
- Good understanding of solid-state chemistry, crystallography, materials design principles, and structure-property relations in inorganic materials
- Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publishing, and communication.
Please see more about our Postdoc experience in the Materials, Chemical and Computational Science Directorate and NREL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmE7-M723oo
Note: We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply, even if they don't meet 100% of the position requirements. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the credentials, skills, and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.
Preferred Qualifications
Strong candidates are asked to further demonstrate the following:
- Proven ability to maintain complex synthesis and characterization equipment, in particular high vacuum instruments using hazardous production materials.
- In-depth knowledge of one or several characterization methods used to determine the structure, composition, and optoelectronic properties of inorganic materials.
- Prior experience or basic understanding of photoelectrochemical and electrochemical measurement methods, performance and stability of the materials.
- Active computer skills in programing (e.g. LabView, C/Igor Pro, Python, Matlab, etc.), statistical data analysis, and/or software development.
- Strong motivation, ability to work on collaborative projects, ability to balance different types of tasks and deadlines.
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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: $73,200 - $120,800
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. NREL 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
Drug Free Workplace
NREL 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 NREL, 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 NREL 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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EEO Policy
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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.
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