Sustainable Polymer Project Scientist
Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry Division has an opening for a Sustainable Polymer Project Scientist.
The Molecular Foundry Division is engaged in a cross-disciplinary and multi-institutional program supported by the BioEnergy Technology Office (BETO) in sustainable polymers with closed-loop materials lifecycles. The chemistry of these polymers incentivizes both their recycling after their service life ends and their regeneration into new products. They are counterpoint to today’s single-use plastics and may help secure our transition to a less-wasteful circular economy.
The project scientist will coordinate a team of researchers in the development of PDK polymers, from which design rules underpinning plastics performance, manufacturing, recycling, and market potential emerge. These activities will be supervised by the Helms group, and coordinated with collaborating researchers at UC Berkeley (Keasling and Persson Groups) and the Joint Bioenergy Institute (Scown Group).
What You Will Do:
- Coordinate the daily activities of a team of researchers engaged in developing sustainable plastics, ensuring that program milestones are met on schedule.
- Develop new capabilities, such as bringing online major scientific instrumentation for synthesizing, processing, and characterizing polymers
- Develop standard operating protocols (SOPs) and work-place controls (WPCs) for major instrumentation for synthesizing, processing, and characterizing polymers
- Provide technical expertise in organic and polymer synthesis, polymer processing, and thermomechanical characterization of molded polymer samples.
- Provide technical expertise in polymer recycling by chemical means (closed-loop, cradle-to-cradle, monomer-to-monomer, etc.).
- Play a key role in maintaining a robust and inclusive safety culture.
- Publish in peer reviewed journals; contribute to writing grant proposals for new or continued funding, scientific research papers, program reports, review articles; present oral reports.
What is Required:
- PhD or equivalent work experience in organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, or chemical engineering, and at least two years of postdoctoral research experience
- Demonstrated knowledge or expertise in characterization methods of organic and polymeric materials.
- Demonstrated ability to train junior researchers,
- Demonstrated ability to conduct and perform collaborative research and effectively interact with a broad range of colleagues.
- Demonstrated ability to accurately and eloquently represent and promote scientific projects to audiences of diverse technical backgrounds.
- Experience in the preparation and handling of scientific manuscripts, grant proposals, program quarterly reports, and research posters.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
For full consideration, please apply by June 23, 2021.
Notes:
- This is a full-time, 2 year, term appointment that may be renewed to a maximum of five years.
- This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
- Berkeley Lab is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) and strives to hire individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives who share these same values and commitments.
- Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.
Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4. Click here to view the poster and supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law."