The Applied Materials Division at Argonne National Laboratory has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral appointee.   The candidate will develop physics-based, first principles models of material degradation in thermal energy storage materials, with a focus on how changes in material chemistry caused by corrosion affect the engineering response of the thermal energy storage system.

The candidate will work with a multidisciplinary team to model degradation of thermal energy storage materials.  These models will employ a multiscale concept, querying atomistic simulations to determine key material properties as a function of the current material chemistry and feeding these properties into higher length scale, continuum models for the system performance.  The continuum simulations will then update the material chemistry, modeling key corrosion mechanisms, and complete the loop back to the atomistic simulations.  This position will have primary responsibility for the continuum simulations of the material and system performance.  However, the ideal candidate would have knowledge and experience working with atomistic simulations, especially molecular dynamics, to facilitate the interaction between the model length scales.  The candidate will help draft and publish technical reports, conference papers, and journal publications describing the research and will be expected to attend and present at technical conferences.

Position Requirements

• The prospective candidate is expected to hold a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, materials science, civil engineering, structural engineering, or a closely related field.

• Experience with finite element simulations.

• Experience modeling chemical transport/corrosion, conjugate heat transfer, and fracture in solid materials.

• Skilled in oral and written communications and presentations at all levels of the organization.

• A successful candidate must have the ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Past experience working with molecular dynamics simulations, either running simulations or using the results of MD simulations.

• Past experience modeling thermal energy storage or similar materials.

• Experience with material life estimation for either ceramic or metallic materials.

• Some background in material corrosion and/or stress corrosion cracking.

• Experience with the MOOSE finite element simulation framework.

• Coding experience in C++ and python.

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