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Geometallurgy and Mineral Beneficiation Postdoctoral Research Associate for Rare Earth Element and Thorium Deposits Idaho National Laboratory in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Geology
Funding
This is a regular, full-time postdoctoral research position with an annual salary of $105,144. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, paid time off, access to a 401(k) through self-contribution for postdoctoral positions, a comprehensive relocation package, and possible eligibility for an employee education program. Benefit eligibility depends on employment status and position classification.
Deadline
Dec 6, 2026
Country
United States
University
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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About this position
Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in geometallurgy, mineral processing, mining geology, or a comparable discipline to join the Department of Critical Minerals & Geothermal Energy within the Energy and Environment Science and Technology directorate.
The research focuses on the geometallurgy of mineralogically complex rare earth element (REE) and thorium deposits. Based in the Minerals, Materials, and Metallurgy (M³) Laboratory in Idaho Falls, the researcher will develop and optimize a multi-stage beneficiation circuit for REE-bearing samples that may contain naturally occurring radioactive material. The project combines comminution, particle-size and mineral-liberation analysis, density separation, magnetic and electromagnetic separation, and froth flotation to transform complex feedstocks into high-grade mineral concentrates for downstream extraction.
Reporting to Dr. Paul Slezak, the postdoctoral researcher will serve as lead experimentalist for laboratory-scale beneficiation studies. The work will connect the physical and mineralogical properties of REE- and thorium-bearing minerals with separation performance, using grade, recovery, and mass-balance analysis to evaluate individual process stages and integrated flowsheets.
The role also includes mineralogical and geochemical characterization using mineral liberation analysis and related methods. The researcher will organize and interpret experimental data, develop elemental deportment models to guide circuit design, and contribute to proposals for acquiring new data. The position offers an interdisciplinary research environment involving critical-mineral processing, geometallurgy, mineral characterization, and applied laboratory engineering.
Additional scholarly and technical contributions include preparing journal manuscripts, presenting findings at national and international conferences, supporting invention disclosures and follow-on proposals, and communicating technical results to sponsors and research peers. The team follows a 9x80 schedule, with every other Friday off, and the work may include laboratory, field, and radioactive-boundary-area activities.
Funding details
This is a regular, full-time postdoctoral research position with an annual salary of $105,144. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, paid time off, access to a 401(k) through self-contribution for postdoctoral positions, a comprehensive relocation package, and possible eligibility for an employee education program. Benefit eligibility depends on employment status and position classification.
What's required
PhD in Metallurgical Engineering, Mineral Processing, Mining Engineering, Geology, or a comparable discipline, completed by the appointment start date and within the previous five years. Candidates must have hands-on experience designing and conducting laboratory-scale comminution experiments, characterizing particle-size distribution and mineral liberation, and performing mineral beneficiation using gravity or density separation, magnetic or electromagnetic separation, or froth flotation. Experience evaluating separation performance through grade, recovery, and mass-balance calculations; mineralogical characterization using X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, automated mineralogy, QEMSCAN, or MLA; and analysis of geological and metallurgical data with computer software is required. Demonstrated oral and published written communication skills in English are required. Preferred experience includes processing rare-earth or other critical-mineral ores, working with naturally occurring radioactive material or in radiological laboratories, flotation reagent chemistry, multi-stage flowsheet design, statistical design of experiments, geometallurgical modeling, elemental deportment studies, electron-probe microanalysis, LA-ICP-MS mapping, and hydrometallurgical leaching. Applicants must be self-motivated, collaborative, able to take direction, and capable of meeting the stated physical and field/laboratory work requirements.
How to apply
Apply through the Idaho National Laboratory careers portal using the Apply Now button. Submit a resume and answer all questions on the application screens; incomplete applications may be deemed ineligible.
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Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.