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Postdoctoral Researcher – Computational Synthesis of PGM-free Fuel Cell Catalysts

National Laboratory of the Rockies

Golden, CO

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$76,600–$126,400 Per Year
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Automation, Background Investigation, Chemistry, Communication Skills, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, DFT (Design for Test), Data Analysis, Economic Growth, English Language, Fuel Cell, Government, High Throughput, Homeland Security, Laboratory, Mace Experience, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Python Programming/Scripting Language, Research & Development (R&D), Research Skills, State Laws and Regulations, System Integration (SI), Systems Analysis, Systems Engineering, Team Player, Trademarks, Training/Teaching, United States Department of Energy (DOE), Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Golden, CO
POSTED
8 days ago
Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher – Computational Synthesis of PGM-free Fuel Cell Catalysts

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.


Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.


At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.


Job Description


The Advance Computing Solutions group in the NLR Computational Science Center has an opening for a post doctoral researcher in computational synthesis, with a particular emphasize on machine-learned interatomic potentials (MLIPs). The researchers will train MLIPs, assess their accuracy and apply them to studying the relevant reaction energetics for synthesis of Fe-N-C fuel cell catalysts using automated workflows. In conjunction with a team of staff scientists, different synthetic precursors will be identified for subsequent synthesis.


We are looking for a dynamic, motivated researcher with a strong technical background and an interest in the mission of NLR. The successful candidate will collaborate with NLR staff and researchers to train and deploy MLIPs for the optimization of Fe-N-C catalyst synthesis.


Responsibilities include:


+ Fine-tuning of foundational model MLIPs with domain-specific data and assessment of their accuracy

+ Collaboration with NLR researchers to use the trained MLIPs to study the chemistry of Fe incorporation into N-C sites for different synthetic precusors

+ Developing automated workflows in conjunction with NLR and collaborating institutions, including automated analysis using AI

+ Processing and visualizing results from simulations provide chemical insight and intuition into important chemical reactions.

+ Authoring, presenting and assisting in the preparation of technical papers, reports and conference proceedings on topics related to MLIP studies of the synthesis of Fe-N-C fuel cell catalysts.


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Basic Qualifications

Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.


* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.


Additional Required Qualifications


+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

+ Excellent knowledge of chemistry, including molecular dynamics and reaction modeling

+ Experience with the MACE-based foundational models and their fine-tuning

+ Experience with creating python environments for training MLIPs, performing MLIP-based molecular dynamics and nudged-elastic band calculations, and performing analysis of results with high throughput


Preferred Qualifications


+ Knowledge of workflow automation, including the use of AI for automated analysis of data.

+ Experienced running density functional theory (DFT) software packages such as JDFTx for VASP.


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Job Application Submission Window


The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.


Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400


NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.


Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.


* Based on eligibility rules


Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.


Drug Free Workplace


NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.


If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.


Submission Guidelines


Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.


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Equal Opportunity Employer


All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.


Reasonable Accommodations (http://www.nrel.gov/careers/employment-policies.html)


E-Verifywww.dhs.gov/E-VerifyFor information about right to work, click here (http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2013/08/13/FinalOSCPosterEN08_01_2013.pdf) for English orhere (http://www.justice.gov/crt/file/813271/download) for Spanish.


E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.


The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy.


NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on-site, off-site, or via telephone or videoconference. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NLR by the Department of Energy (DOE).


Drug Free Workplace


NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.


If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.


Please review the information on our Hiring Process (https://www.nlr.gov/careers/hiring-process.html) website before you create an account and apply for a job. We also hope you will learn more about NLR (https://www.nlr.gov/about/) , visit our Careers site (https://www.nlr.gov/careers/) , and continue to search for job opportunities (https://nrel.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/NLR) at the lab.

About the Company

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National Laboratory of the Rockies