Porous Materials Research Scientist

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

Leidos currently has an opening for a Porous Materials Research Scientist to join our research support team in Pittsburgh, PA in supporting the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), a U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) national laboratory (https://netl.doe.gov). This is an opportunity to conduct research with world-class scientists and engineers using state of the art equipment, contributing to new areas of applied research to enhance the nation’s energy security and protect the environment for future generations.  From developing creative innovations and efficient energy systems, to advancing technologies that enhance oil and natural gas extraction and transmission processes, NETL research is providing breakthroughs and discoveries that support home-grown energy initiatives, stimulate a growing economy, and improve the health, safety, and security of all Americans. Highly skilled women and men at NETL’s three research sites – Albany, Oregon; Morgantown, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – conduct a broad range of research activities that support DOE’s mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. Remote work is possible up to 10%.

Carbon utilization, in which captured carbon dioxide is transformed into industrially relevant chemicals and materials, is an important and growing research area to achieve a decarbonized future energy landscape. To provide key contributions to the DOE’s carbon management portfolio, NETL is committed in advancing basic and applied research to seek new catalysts and processes for transforming CO2 sourced from fossil fuel combustion. This research position will support a new effort to develop bifunctional materials that can both capture and convert CO2, creating an adsorbent/catalyst monolith through additive manufacturing and engineering the surface reactivity/porosity by thin film coating.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform research at NETL Pittsburgh to develop bifunctional adsorbent/catalyst monolith through:
  • Synthesis of porous materials
  • Fabrication of monolith using additive manufacturing technique, which includes materials formulation suitable for 3D printing
  • Thin film coating of porous materials monolith using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD)
  • Characterization of porous materials e.g. using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
  • Bifunctional monolith reaction performance testing: high pressure/high temperature reaction process, pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) and temperature-swing adsorption (TSA)
• Collaborate with the principal investigator (PI), other researchers, engineering and support staff to prepare laboratory space for supporting the research efforts described above and other related research efforts.
• Disseminate research results through publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presentations in relevant scientific forums, and presentations to the funding stakeholders.

Required Education & Experience:

• PhD degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science or related fields of study with 2+ years experience in the synthesis and characterization of nanoporous materials.
• The candidate will have experience in fabrication of composite structured nanoporous materials using additive manufacturing.
• The candidate will have experience in performance testing composite structured materials for carbon capture and utilization at high temperature and pressure.
• The candidate will have a track record of publication in high impact, peer-reviewed journal publications, as well as experience in presenting results at relevant scientific forums.
• Must be able to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate is a highly independent researcher with experience of managing interdisciplinary research projects in a lab.
• The ideal candidate has a track record of close collaboration with multiple researchers, internally or externally, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and serving as a technical resource across teams.
• The ideal candidate has had experience in supervising others, encouraging success of fellow team members.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for technical and general audiences.
• Experience in grant and proposal writing for federal agencies.
• Experience in the synthesis of polymers, catalysts, bifunctional materials.
• Experience in coating processes such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD).
• Experience in kinetic testing catalysts in a gas or liquid reaction, and associated separation and purification processes.
• Experience in pressure swing and temperature swing gas adsorption processes.
• The ideal candidate has a strong publication record on catalysis, adsorption, and carbon capture and utilization research areas.

Salary Range for this position: $90K to $95K

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500® technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company’s 45,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022.  For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

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Commitment to Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.