Postdoctoral Researcher – Advanced Material and Membrane Development for Water and Critical Mineral Recovery Applications

Argonne National Laboratory in the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group in the Applied Materials Division (AMD) has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to develop materials, membranes, fabrication processes, and advanced characterization for water and critical mineral recovery applications. The researcher is expected to use chemical reaction and solution-based synthesis approaches to fabricate element selective sorbents and membranes. We are seeking candidates who will be able to design experiments and develop methodologies to design material compositions and microstructures to achieve desired physics and mass and charge transport properties. 

As part of the Materials Engineering Research Facilities (MERF), the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group perform science-based membrane synthesis and scaleup development by using roll-to-roll manufacturing and machine learning enabled in-line characterization and quality control methods. The group works closely with industry partners and academic collaborators to address real-world manufacturing challenges and develop next-generation energy-storage and conversion solutions.

The candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team with researchers at MERF and collaborators inside and outside Argonne. The candidate is expected to design and conduct experiments, analyze data and explore mechanisms behind the experimental observations, prepare technical reports and manuscripts, and support future project applications.

Major Duties / Responsibilities:

• Synthesize monomer and polymer materials for polymer membranes and sorbents development.
• Conduct surface modification and functionalization to membranes and sorbents to achieve target separation properties.
• Formulate and synthesis inks for membrane deposition, including electrospinning, slot-die coating, and 3D printing.
• Design composite and hybrid materials and membranes to enhance selectivity and permeance of membranes or separation factors, adsorption capacity and kinetics, and chemical stability of sorbents.
• Conduct structure, microstructure, physics and chemical properties of materials, as well as transport, separation, and electrochemical properties of membranes.
• Develop techniques and strategies for postmortem characterization of membranes to understand fouling, scaling, and membrane failure mechanism.
• Write reports and high-impact papers and present research at conferences.
• Develop or support the development of collaborations with academia and industry.

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (typically completed within the last 0-5 years) in chemical engineering, material science, or related fields.
• Demonstrated knowledge in materials synthesis and characterization.
• Demonstrated knowledge in membranes, water treatment, and element extraction.
• Demonstrated knowledge of transport property study such as electrochemical properties of ion-exchange membranes, permeance and selectivity tradeoff in pressure-driven membranes.
• Experience in polymer material and sorbent synthesis.
• Experience in surface functionalization.
• Experience in coating, printing, or any other wet-chemistry deposition techniques.
• Experience using analytical tools, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy. (SEM and TEM), spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman, XPS), composition analysis (HPLC, ICP-MS), and electrochemical (EIS).
• Publication record with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability/aptitude to contribute to proposal writing, write reports, and publish journal papers and patents.
• Skilled oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• A successful candidate must model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
• This position requires full-time, on-site presence, five days a week at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with casting or slot-die coating.
• Experience with chemical synthesis.
• Experience of sorbent synthesis and adsorption study.
• Experience with electrospinning.
• Experience with aerosol jet printing or 3D printing is a plus
• Highly self-motivated candidate who demonstrates creative and proactive approaches towards scientific problem solving as evidenced by publications and recommendations.
• Proven track record showing the ability to carry out independent and collaborative research in a multidisciplinary team while meeting project milestones and deadlines.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.