Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

Leidos is seeking an exceptional and motivated Geochemist to work alongside world class engineers and researchers supporting the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Albany, OR. This work will involve a multi-disciplinary, scientific, and technically oriented national laboratory team, with participation alongside other data scientists, engineers, geologists, and computer scientists that produces technological solutions for America's energy challenges. The successful candidate will conduct research focused on the reactivity and extractability of rare earth elements (REE) in natural sediments including coals while also developing technologies to advance the production of Critical Materials from unconventional and secondary sources.

The objective of this work is to investigate new avenues for extracting and concentrating REEs through in situ extraction. The position will have responsibility for all elements of research including experimental design, analytical processing and interpretation, writing and presentation/publication of results.

Location: This position is located onsite at the NETL campus in Albany, OR. Only candidates local (or willing to relocate) to the Albany, OR area will be considered.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Evaluation and planning of upscaling ex-situ extraction experiments: batch and vertical heap-leaching experiments.

• Complete initial larger scale ex-situ REE recovery tests of select cation exchange/ion exchangeable REEs.
• Design and build larger scale REE recovery tests (5-15 kg vertical columns) with organic acid in select cation exchange/ion exchangeable REE.
• Preparing quarterly progress reports and internal presentations on project progress.
• Disseminating results via journal articles and national conference presentations.
• Development of new intellectual property based on the innovative research.
• Period status reporting and project reports (weekly/monthly/quarterly/annually) is required to update project managers and clients.
• Provide leadership and expertise on field projects including delegation to team members and communication of project milestone status to management.
• Prepare technical reports on project scope, milestones and conference/workshop presentations to disseminate research findings, activities, operations, and future initiatives to industry, academic and government stakeholder.

Required Education, Experience & Other:

• Master's degree in Science related field with 5+ years of equivalent practical experience or a PhD in geology, geochemistry, mining engineering, environmental engineering, or related field with 3+ years of practical experience (can include post-doctoral research).
• Technical expertise of analytical and experimental geochemistry.
• Technical expertise of the solid sorbent research to evaluate organic acid leaching and recovery.
• Expertise in high pressure water-rock experimentation and analysis.
• Expertise in instrumental analysis of rare earth elements.
• Knowledge of analytical instrumentation including XRF, XRD, LIBS, SEM-EDS, EPMA, TIMA.
• Experience in experimentation using high temperature, high pressure autoclaves to simulate the subsurface environment.
• Must be able to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.
• U.S. Citizen

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to operate and train/oversee junior level staff in the use of analytical and experimental laboratory equipment.
• Ability to identify and improve process parameters for both in-situ and ex-situ extraction experiments.
• Proven track record of publications and presentations.
• Ability to plan and develop proposals for DOE or external funding opportunities.
• Experience in geochemical modeling.
• Experience with use of confocal microscopy and electron microprobe for mineral processing and characterization.

Salary Range for this position: $95K to $105K

While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.