Postdoctoral Research Associate - Chemical Engineering

General Summary of Position:

The Lam Research Group in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position focused on experimental molten salt science, advanced materials characterization, and AI-enabled materials discovery. The successful candidate will play a leading role in establishing and operating a new molten salt laboratory, including capabilities for salt synthesis, handling, characterization, and thermophysical property measurements.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to interdisciplinary projects that integrate experimental characterization, artificial intelligence, spectroscopy, and computational materials science. Major research thrusts include the development of AI-enabled X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis methods for monitoring molten salt chemistry and corrosion in fusion energy systems, as well as the experimental validation of generative AI approaches for inverse materials design. These efforts aim to accelerate the discovery and deployment of advanced materials for energy applications.

The successful candidate will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of students, postdoctoral researchers, national laboratory collaborators, and computational scientists. Additional opportunities exist to engage in other clean energy projects involving high- temperature ceramics, thermal energy storage materials, and ultra-wide-bandgap semiconductors.

Beyond the primary research objectives, the postdoctoral researcher will have significant freedom to pursue complementary research interests and develop new technical expertise. The successful candidate will be encouraged to lead publications, present research at national and international conferences, mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and build collaborations with researchers at universities, national laboratories, and industry. The position is intended to provide a strong foundation for future careers in academia, national laboratories, or industry through the development of both technical expertise and scientific leadership.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related field by the start date of employment.
• Demonstrated experience conducting experimental research in materials science, chemistry, electrochemistry, high-temperature systems, or related areas.
• Experience designing, operating, or maintaining laboratory equipment and experimental facilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including a record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting experimental data using modern scientific software tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have experience in several of the following areas. However, applicants are not expected to possess expertise in all areas listed below.

• Experience with molten salts, high-temperature materials, or related chemical systems.
• Experience with materials synthesis and characterization.
• Experience with X-ray characterization methods, including XRD, XAS/XAFS, or synchrotron techniques.
• Experience with corrosion science, electrochemistry, thermophysical property measurements, or related experimental methods.
• Experience developing laboratory infrastructure or establishing new experimental capabilities.
• Familiarity with machine learning, artificial intelligence, or computational materials science.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate or graduate students.
• Interest in fusion energy, advanced nuclear technologies, or energy storage applications.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Only current UML Employees within the Grants & Contracts (MTA/GRACE) bargaining unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

This is a full-time, benefited and in the Grace union. Grade PD. Anticipated salary based on grant, qualifications and range. Minimum $50,000, 25th quartile: $56,500 and midpoint: $63,000.

This position is contingent upon funding, and is for twelve months contingent on productivity, successful performance and the availability of funding.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled; however, the posting may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.