Bidder Eligibility:

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment. Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

Employees must remain in their current position for one year before applying for a new position, with the exception of student interns. Application of this requirement will not supersede collective bargaining agreements. See collective bargaining labor agreements for represented bidder eligibility requirements for represented employees.

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

The Geochemistry Department seeks a dedicated and motivated postdoctoral research scientist to investigate the effects of fluid chemistry on the nanomechanical properties of layered materials using in situ (in liquid) nanoindentation. This research program is designed to develop new fundamental understanding of the chemo-mechanical response and associated displacement bursts when stress is applied to anisotropic laminated materials. This research will build knowledge from nanomechanical measurements and slip modeling and connect these nano-scale findings to the field-scale observations. The planned experimental research will entail working with mica minerals and perovskite composites and using a Bruker Premier TriboIndenter to quantitatively connect interfacial chemical processes to nanoindentation-induced displacement bursts in layered materials. The selected applicant will perform laboratory experiments, analyze data, and write peer-reviewed publications. This position includes close collaboration with interfacial chemist, experts in nanomechanics, and statisticians. There will be opportunities to further develop various aspects of this evolving research project. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite. To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States of America without sponsorship for employment visa status.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Design and perform nanoindentation experiments in the geochemistry laboratory
• Analyze and interpret data
• Read and summarize relevant literature
• Write manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
• Conduct work in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Attend and present at technical conferences or program meetings

Qualifications We Require:

• PhD in mechanical engineering, geomechanics, materials science, geochemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field
• Experience with nanoindentation and/or other surface measurement techniques
• Experience working in a chemistry laboratory
• Experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals

Qualifications We Desire:

• Ability to plan and complete technical work
• Experience with designing and carrying out laboratory experiments
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience in analytical chemistry method development and optimization
• Ability to understand and work with a diverse set of experimental techniques
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment showing initiative and leadership
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to safety, security, and quality of research
• Ability to present research findings at national and international meetings

About Our Team:

The Geochemistry Department has expertise in three areas: 1) molecular-scale modeling, 2) experimental geochemistry, and 3) applied environmental/chemical engineering. We tackle geosciences-related problems with an application for carbon sequestration, unconventional oil and gas recovery, nuclear waste management, and environmental remediation. In addition, we reach beyond the subsurface environment looking at nuclear weapons applications and air-borne contaminant detection and removal. Program focus is currently on chemical effects on fracture initiation and propagation, heterogeneous redox chemistry on clay mineral surfaces, coupled geochemistry and geomechanics in shales, and permeable reactive barriers for soil radionuclide remediation. Computing facilities for molecular modeling include a cluster (CPU nodes, GPU nodes) maintained by the Geochemistry Department as well as the Sandia High Performance Computing. In addition, we have 3,000 square feet of laboratory space that includes the following analytical equipment: XRD, FTIR, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, TOF-MS, and SEM.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance:

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Job ID: 692869