What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dynamic Properties Experimental Postdoc position at Los Alamos National Laboratory?
What You Will Do
MST-8 is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop and apply high-rate and impact-testing capabilities that quantify dynamic strength, damage, and failure in metals, polymers, and ceramics.
The postdoctoral researcher will work in a multidisciplinary team integrating dynamic mechanical testing, materials characterization, diagnostics, and modeling. Responsibilities include designing and conducting experiments; operating and improving high-rate testing systems; analyzing wave data; and reporting results. Work may include split Hopkinson pressure bar, gas-gun, RMI, and related tests.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Ph.D. completed within the past five years or soon to be completed in materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, applied mechanics, physics, or a closely related field.
Work Environment:
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Note to Applicants:
For technical questions related to this position contact Dr. Hi Vo (hvo@lanl.gov).
For general information to the Postdoc Program go to http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php.
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.Instructions on How to Activate/ Create a LANL Jobs Account:
Follow the instructions below if you have ever had an employee Z number, been a contractor, or received Los Alamos Lab insurance coverage to activate your account:
MST-8 is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop and apply high-rate and impact-testing capabilities that quantify dynamic strength, damage, and failure in metals, polymers, and ceramics.
The postdoctoral researcher will work in a multidisciplinary team integrating dynamic mechanical testing, materials characterization, diagnostics, and modeling. Responsibilities include designing and conducting experiments; operating and improving high-rate testing systems; analyzing wave data; and reporting results. Work may include split Hopkinson pressure bar, gas-gun, RMI, and related tests.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, applied mechanics, physics, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated experimental experience with wave mechanics relevant to dynamic loading, including stress-wave propagation, impedance effects, dispersion, pulse shaping, and data reduction.
- Hands-on experience with at least one high-rate testing capability, such as a split Hopkinson pressure bar, gas gun, comparable impact or shock-loading platform.
- Experience measuring and interpreting high-strain-rate material response for one or more material classes, including metals, polymers, or ceramics.
- Ability to design, execute, document, and analyze complex experiments; communicate results clearly; and contribute reliably to project milestones and sponsor deliverables.
- Strong teamwork and communication skills in a safety-conscious research environment.
- Extensive knowledge of gas-gun testing, split Hopkinson pressure bar testing, or a similar dynamic-testing method, including specimen and fixture design, instrumentation, and calibration.
- Understanding of relationships among composition, processing, microstructure, and dynamic response, with experience using characterization to interpret mechanical behavior.
- Experience with dynamic diagnostics such as strain-gauge instrumentation, high-speed imaging, digital image correlation, velocity interferometry, or other time-resolved measurements.
- Experience adapting and building instruments to enable high-rate experiments for metals, polymers, ceramics, or multiphase materials, including attention to impedance mismatch, wave equilibration, and material-specific failure mechanisms.
- Experience with computational mechanics, finite-element analysis, wave-propagation modeling, or data-analysis workflows using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools.
Ph.D. completed within the past five years or soon to be completed in materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, applied mechanics, physics, or a closely related field.
Work Environment:
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Note to Applicants:
For technical questions related to this position contact Dr. Hi Vo (hvo@lanl.gov).
For general information to the Postdoc Program go to http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php.
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
- PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
- Dental and vision insurance
- Free basic life and disability insurance
- Paid childbirth and parental leave
- Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
- Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
- Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
- Onsite gyms and wellness programs
- Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.Instructions on How to Activate/ Create a LANL Jobs Account:
Follow the instructions below if you have ever had an employee Z number, been a contractor, or received Los Alamos Lab insurance coverage to activate your account:
- Select the Click Here button if you have been employed with the Lab or received insurance coverage.
- Please enter only your first and last name and current email address (an email with your validation code will be sent to you) to activate the account currently in our system.
- Enter your validation code as described in the email you receive and complete the 3-page registration form. Your account is now active, and you can apply for jobs or save to your basket. Important: Enter the validation code within 15 days to activate your account or your account will be deactivated.
- Select the Register button if you have never been employed with the Lab or received insurance coverage to Create an Account.
- From here, you will establish an account with username and password.
- Click the Vacancy Name number (in blue) to view any job's details.
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