Nuclear Materials Characterization Scientist

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Nuclear Materials Characterization Scientist specializing in Electron Microscopy to work in our Advanced Materials Characterization Department. Our team works a 4x10 schedule located out of our Materials and Fuels Complex. This position will focus on the advanced characterization of materials for a variety of materials development programs at INL, contributing to cutting-edge research that supports our mission of advancing nuclear energy technologies.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for leading the planning, designing, and analyzing experiments to evaluate the performance of advanced nuclear fuels and materials. Responsible for developing post-irradiation examination plans, overseeing data collection, reduction and analysis of the performance data, and publication of results in internal reports and the open literature.
• Conduct advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis on a variety of materials, including but not limited to nuclear fuels, structural materials, and advanced alloys.
• Perform Focused Ion Beam TEM sample preparation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to interpret data and correlate it with other characterization methods and material properties.
• Prepare detailed reports and presentations of research findings for internal stakeholders and external publication.
• Maintain and ensure the proper functioning of TEM equipment and related tools.
• Provide analysis and evaluation of data from experiments on different nuclear fuels, claddings, or structural materials.
• Work closely with INL program leadership, industry partners and other collaborators to assess the performance of nuclear fuels and cladding through execution of post-irradiation examinations. Provide insight to INL facilities on future instrument needs of INL PIE examinations.
• Author and/or contribute to publications in area of specialty. Present results at National and International Conferences. Contribute to peer review work of others both within or external to the Characterization department.
• Establish relationships with Universities within the US and internationally to develop partnerships that will be needed to support PIE in the future and advance the INL mission.
• Mentor or provide guidance to junior scientists, technicians, or post-doctoral staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Level 2: Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related field with a strong emphasis on materials characterization and 0 years' experience.
• Level 3: Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related field with a strong emphasis on materials characterization and 2 years' experience.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy "Q" clearance, which requires US Citizenship.
• Testing Designated Position (TDP).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with TEM characterization of nuclear materials.
• Familiarity with other microscopy and characterization techniques such as SEM, and XRD.
• Hands-on experience with advanced TEM techniques such as electron diffraction, EELS, and tomography.

Job Information:

• The pay range for this position is: Level 2 ($77,628 - $159,228)/ Level 3 ($93,204 - $191,076) At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.
• Multi-Level: This is a multi-level posting and you will be placed at the appropriate level dependent on depth and breadth of proven experience and skills.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Position requires the ability to smell. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions