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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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Postdoctoral Research Associate in Hydrothermal Biomass Processing and Process Development Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
Temporary full-time postdoctoral employment with a stated annual salary range of USD $69,000 to USD $119,100. The posting describes employee benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, telehealth and mental-health benefits, retirement plans, vacation, holidays, and other benefits; research associates may be excluded from some listed benefits and all benefits are eligibility-dependent.
Deadline
Nov 29, 2026
Country
United States
University
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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About this position
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Process Development and Engineering for the Chemical and Biological Processing Group within the Energy Processes and Materials Division.
The researcher will investigate hydrothermal processing of biomass, with particular emphasis on hydrothermal liquefaction and detailed characterization of the resulting products. The work will examine oil, aqueous, solid, and gas phases generated during biomass processing and contribute to the development of practical hydrothermal conversion technologies.
The postdoctoral researcher will conduct independent research while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team on hydrothermal process development. Core activities include safely operating laboratory-scale batch or continuous-flow reactor systems, analyzing biomass-derived products, and supporting reactor and process design. The research may connect biomass-derived intermediates, oxygenates, biocrudes, waste-derived feedstocks, and catalytic upgrading pathways to the production of fuels and chemicals.
The role is based in the Energy and Environment Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a major U.S. Department of Energy research institution. Its Energy Processes and Materials Division links fundamental science with technology development, scale-up, and commercialization across energy storage, advanced materials manufacturing, applied catalysis, separations, biomass conversion, carbon capture, and hydrogen technologies.
The researcher will also prepare technical reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations, and project deliverables; present results at conferences and sponsor meetings; and contribute to proposals, intellectual property, and new technical capabilities. The position offers a research environment centered on rigorous, reproducible laboratory science and collaboration across chemical engineering, chemistry, materials, and energy research.
The opening is located at PNNL’s campus in Richland, Washington, in the eastern part of the state.
Funding details
Temporary full-time postdoctoral employment with a stated annual salary range of USD $69,000 to USD $119,100. The posting describes employee benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, telehealth and mental-health benefits, retirement plans, vacation, holidays, and other benefits; research associates may be excluded from some listed benefits and all benefits are eligibility-dependent.
What's required
Applicants must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or expect to receive one within the next eight months from an accredited college or university. The PhD must be in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field. Preferred qualifications include independent scientific or engineering research experience; direct experience with hydrothermal liquefaction or related hydrothermal processing; hands-on operation and design of laboratory-scale batch or continuous-flow hydrothermal reactors; familiarity with biomass-derived intermediates, oxygenates, biocrudes, waste-derived feedstocks, or catalytic upgrading; peer-reviewed publications and technical presentations; strong written and verbal communication skills; effective multidisciplinary teamwork; experience with liquid-liquid extraction, chromatography, or distillation; and interest in translating fundamental science into scalable chemical processes. Experience with large language models, agentic workflows, or generative AI for literature analysis, hypothesis generation, data interpretation, or research automation is a plus. Employment also requires applicable federal credentialing and background requirements, and foreign-national eligibility is subject to PNNL and Department of Energy requirements.
How to apply
Apply through the PNNL postdoctoral application portal using the direct application link. Submit the application before November 29, 2026, at 4:00 PM Pacific Time.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.