Colorado School of Mines
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Post-Doctoral Fellow, Civil and Environmental Engineering Colorado School of Mines in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Geology
Funding
Annual salary of $65,000 to $70,000; research staff benefits include employer retirement contribution and standard employee benefits.
Country
United States
University
Colorado School of Mines
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About this position
Colorado School of Mines is seeking three postdoctoral researchers for a project on sustainable construction materials derived from red mud and residual materials such as mine tailings from critical mineral recovery. The work focuses on turning untreated red mud and treated residual powder into valuable products including supplementary cementitious materials, lightweight aggregates, geopolymer bricks, and related construction materials.
Each postdoctoral researcher will concentrate on one product track while contributing to a collaborative team working across multiple reuse pathways. The research combines feedstock characterization, pretreatment and activation studies, and product development and testing. Laboratory work will cover physical, chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural analysis of the source materials and the resulting products.
The project involves investigating how processing conditions and material characteristics affect performance, energy use, manufacturability, and scale-up potential. Researchers will design and evaluate mortar and concrete mixtures, explore alkali-activated and geopolymer bricks, and study lightweight aggregates and ceramic tiles made through laboratory and semi-continuous routes such as extrusion, pelletization, pressing, curing, and sintering.
The role is embedded in the research environment of the Colorado School of Mines, a public engineering and applied science university with a strong focus on earth, energy, and environmental challenges. The postdoctoral researchers will contribute to technical reports, scholarly publications, intellectual property development, and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate researchers while participating in project meetings and collaborative research activities.
The appointment is tied to a team working on sustainable reuse of mine-derived residuals and construction materials.
Funding details
Annual salary of $65,000 to $70,000; research staff benefits include employer retirement contribution and standard employee benefits.
What's required
PhD in a related field such as civil engineering, materials engineering, geological engineering, mining engineering, chemical engineering, physics, chemistry, or another related field. Applicants should have research experience in cementitious materials, concrete, supplementary cementitious materials, ceramics, alkali-activated materials, industrial byproducts, mine waste, or closely related materials, a strong publication record in high-quality peer-reviewed journals, current U.S. work authorization, and excellent oral and written communication skills. Preferred qualifications include prior work with cementitious materials, concrete durability, supplementary cementitious materials, ceramics, alternative binders, industrial byproducts, mine tailings, or red mud, experience with techniques such as SEM/EDS, XRD, XRF, FTIR, TGA/DSC, ICP-AES, particle-size analysis, or micro-CT, and knowledge of cement hydration, pozzolanic reactions, SCM reactivity, alkali activation, ceramic processing, or microstructure-property relationships.
How to apply
Apply online as soon as possible through the Workday application link. Upload a resume and a cover letter stating your product track(s) of interest. References will be requested later in the selection process.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.