Postdoctoral Appointee - X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Soils

The Molecular Environmental Science and Biogeochemical Process Group in Argonne National Laboratory's Biosciences Division seeks a postdoctoral appointee for multi-institution DOE-funded projects on the predictive understanding of terrestrial-aquatic and wetland systems. The research asks how coupled interactions of waters, soils and plants drive the fluxes and microbial transformations of carbon, nutrients, critical materials and redox-active elements such as Fe and S.

The appointee applies synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy to biogeochemical transformations in wetlands, develops microcosm and column experiments, collects samples at field sites (the Cottonwood Lake Study Area in the Prairie Pothole Region, Old Woman Creek near Lake Erie and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center at Chesapeake Bay), runs synchrotron experiments at DOE user facilities, and publishes and presents results. The expected hiring range is $72,879–$121,465.

Recently completed PhD (within the last 0–5 years); knowledge and skills in synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy, including x-ray optics and beamline setup and data analysis; experience in biogeochemical or soil-based systems preferred (catalysis or redox-chemistry backgrounds also considered); ability to design experiments and laboratory protocols in environmental biogeochemistry; strong communication and teamwork skills.