Postdoctoral Research Associate - Momentum-Resolved Electron Spectroscopy of Quantum Materials

Requisition Id 17425 Overview The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking two Postdoctoral Research Associates to advance the development and application of next-generation electron microscopy and spectroscopy capabilities for investigating quantum materials. These positions offer an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of novel scientific instrumentation and explore fundamental relationships between material structure, electronic behavior, and collective excitations. The successful candidates will join a collaborative research team integrating advanced electron microscopy, materials characterization, computational methods, and complementary scattering techniques to address important challenges in condensed matter physics and materials science. The research will involve developing and applying advanced approaches to momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (qEELS), with opportunities to contribute to instrument development, experimental measurements, computational modeling, and data-driven analysis. The two researchers will bring complementary expertise, with individual responsibilities tailored to their backgrounds and research interests. The positions reside in the Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis (eMMA) Group within the Nanomaterials Characterization Section of CNMS, part of ORNL’s Physical Sciences Directorate. The successful candidates will collaborate with researchers across CNMS, ORNL’s Neutron Scattering Division, and external research partners. Major Duties/Responsibilities Contribute to the development, commissioning, and application of advanced electron microscopy and spectroscopy instrumentation. Design and conduct experiments to investigate electronic properties, collective excitations, and structure–property relationships in quantum materials. Develop and apply computational, theoretical, or data-driven approaches to support instrument development, experimental design, and interpretation of results. Explore opportunities to integrate electron microscopy and spectroscopy with complementary characterization techniques, including neutron scattering. Collaborate with multidisciplinary research teams spanning experimental science, instrumentation, theory, and computation. Develop scientific software and reproducible workflows for experimental data acquisition, processing, simulation, or analysis. Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, present results at scientific conferences, and contribute to research proposals and reports. Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements. Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success. Basic Qualifications A PhD in physics, applied physics, materials science and engineering, or a related field completed within the last 5 years Preferred Qualifications We seek candidates with strong research backgrounds in one or more of the following areas: Electron microscopy and spectroscopy: Experience with transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, electron diffraction, or related advanced characterization techniques. Scientific instrumentation: Experience in electron optics, instrument development, experimental physics, instrument control, or computational modeling of scientific instruments. Quantum materials and condensed matter physics: Understanding of electronic structure, scattering phenomena, collective excitations, or the physical properties of quantum and correlated materials. Computational science and data analysis: Experience with scientific programming, numerical simulation, machine learning, or computational approaches to experimental data interpretation. Complementary scattering techniques: …

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