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Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Organic Chemistry and Critical Minerals Separation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory in United States

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Chemistry

Funding

Postdoctoral appointment up to 24 months with potential extension, subject to performance and availability of funding. ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits; relocation assistance is mentioned. No stipend amount is provided.

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Country

United States

University

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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Keywords

Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Materials Science
Organic Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
Gas Adsorption
Solvent Extraction

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About this position

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Organic Chemistry and Critical Minerals Separation Science within the Nanomaterials Chemistry Group, Separations and Polymer Chemistry Section, Chemical Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Directorate.

The project focuses on developing next-generation ligands and functionalized sorbents for the selective extraction and recovery of gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), and other critical minerals from complex zinc-processing feedstocks. The successful candidate will work on organic synthesis, materials characterization, solvent extraction, and solid-phase separation studies to advance sustainable critical mineral recovery technologies.

Research activities include designing and synthesizing organic ligands, functionalizing resins and polymers, running adsorption-based solid-liquid and liquid-liquid separation experiments, and using analytical tools such as NMR, MS, FT-IR, TGA, DSC, XRD, BET, SEM, and ICP for characterization and ion analysis. The role involves close collaboration with ORNL staff, university collaborators, and industry partners, plus presenting results at meetings and conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in organic, inorganic, or polymer chemistry, materials science, or a related field completed within the last 5 years. Preferred experience includes separations chemistry of metal ions, especially gallium, transition metals, or lanthanides; electrochemical separation; ligand synthesis; resin/polymer functionalization; sorbent extraction; adsorption or packed-column systems; and strong publication and communication skills.

Funding and appointment: The appointment is up to 24 months with possible extension, depending on performance and funding availability. ORNL notes competitive pay and benefits, plus relocation assistance. No specific stipend amount is listed.

Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States.

How to apply: Submit your application through the ORNL jobs portal. Three letters of reference are required and may be uploaded or emailed to [email protected] with the position title and number in the subject line.

Funding details

Postdoctoral appointment up to 24 months with potential extension, subject to performance and availability of funding. ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits; relocation assistance is mentioned. No stipend amount is provided.

What's required

Ph.D. in organic, inorganic, or polymer chemistry, materials science, or a related field completed within the last 5 years. Preferred experience includes separations chemistry of metal ions, especially gallium, transition metals, or lanthanides; electrochemical separation; ligand synthesis; functionalization of resins or polymers; sorbent extraction; adsorption or packed-column systems; and analytical techniques such as ICP-OES or ICP-MS. Applicants must complete all degree requirements before starting and be able to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge and pass a federal Tier 1 background check.

How to apply

Apply through the ORNL jobs portal using the View or Apply link. Submit your application materials and include three letters of reference, either uploaded directly or emailed with the position title and number in the subject line.

More information can be found here

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