The Strategic Security Sciences Division is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral appointee to join the Science & Technology Integration Group. This position would leverage experience in several technical fields including but not limited to environmental transport phenomena, sensor design and engineering, and nuclear chemistry. The individual will: 1) Contribute to the modeling of resuspension phenomena; 2) Design laboratory and field experiments to measure resuspension of dust; 3) Design and build sensor platforms to improve laboratory and field measurement of resuspension; 4) Perform analyses that relate experimental results to suggested improvements to current practice; 5) Present the data at scientific meetings and meetings with sponsors and publish results in the peer review literature; and 6). Develop research ideas that address gaps in our nation’s ability to recover from a incident of national security.

In this role, you will:

• Be working with SSS staff to apply and extend existing computational models for transport and dispersion in the built environment.

• Design experiments and apply indoor facility transport and dispersion to analyses.

• Design experiments and apply urban outdoor transport and dispersion analyses.

• Prepare graphical representations of data and materials for sponsor meetings and conferences.

• Publish and present work as appropriate.

• Perform literature review on parameters important to the production of resuspended dust and methods of its measurement in the lab and in the field.

• Plan and conduct resuspension measurements in the lab setting and in the field. 

• Prepare measurement plan based on evaluation of current particulate matter monitors and sensors. 

• Collect, analyze, and report (written and oral) results to the scientific community. 

Responsibilities include:

• Set up and perform analyses for specific scenarios of hazardous material releases in urban areas (indoor and outdoor).

• Collect and analyze experimental airflow and particulate/gas concentration data, including conducting detailed analyses of past studies in urban areas.

• Summarize results in the form of peer-review papers or government reports.

• Develop new ideas in the areas of deposition and resuspension of particulate material, and transport and dispersion in general.

Position Requirements

To be considered you must have:

• Ph.D. in physics, mechanical engineering, nuclear science, environmental engineering, or a closely related field soon-to-be completed or completed within the past three years.

• Knowledge of nuclear engineering principles

• Experience operating air particle monitors and sensors including coding, maintenance, theory of operation, state of the art COTS systems, operating ranges and limitations.

• Experience conducting experiments to measure resuspension of dust.

• Experience in handling radioactive and nuclear materials.

• Experience conducting experiments to measure the partitioning of elements and chemicals between solids and liquids.

• Proficiency in common computer codes such as Python. 

• Proficiency in running plume and dosimetry models.

• Expert understanding of the current and past experiences in measuring the resuspension of dust and radioactive materials due to human activity.

• Knowledge of fluid dynamics and a basic understanding of turbulent dispersion as it relates to pollutant transport.

• Research experience in one or more specialized areas of nuclear science and engineering.

• Experience in computer programming and scripting.

• Ability to participate in and/or lead teams in field studies in urban areas.

• Desire to publish results in peer-review journals and conference proceedings.

• Ability and willingness to travel (once a month or less).

• Problem solving skills and a self-starter with a strong work ethic. 

• Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication.

• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork.

• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Resident required because of program requirements of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

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

This level of knowledge is typically achieved through a formal education in nuclear science and engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or a related field at the Ph.D. level with zero years of employment experience.

Job Family

Job Profile

Worker Type

Time Type

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis.  Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.  Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.