Polymer Formulation Chemist - Academic Graduate Appointee

1d1 day ago

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Livermore, US · Full-time · $81,996 – $100,020

About this role

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory seeks an Academic Graduate Appointee for research in silicone materials development and processing for 3D printing. Focus areas include formulation development, 3D printing, curing behavior, and mechanical performance. The position sits in the High Performance Materials group of the Materials Science Division.

Conduct research to design, formulate, print, and characterize silicone-based materials for advanced additive manufacturing. Integrate automation and data-driven workflows to accelerate materials development. Execute experiments quantifying relationships among rheology, cure kinetics, processing conditions, and mechanical properties.

Collaborate with scientists in a multidisciplinary team environment to accomplish research goals. Engage with internal and external collaborators on complex challenges. Work within a culture of innovation and operational excellence advancing national security.

Document research activities and publish papers in peer-reviewed journals. Present results within the DOE community and at conferences. Contribute to workflows enhancing reproducibility and iteration cycles in materials science.

Requirements

Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field
Experience in polymer processing and characterization, such as mixing, formulating, mechanical testing, rheological testing, and thermal testing demonstrated by coursework, training, and/or work experience
Demonstrated experience developing and executing experimental plans, including troubleshooting complex materials and process variables
Demonstrated ability to write and use code for data processing, analysis, or experiment control in a research environment
Ability to develop independent research projects through publication of peer-reviewed literature
Sufficient verbal and written communication skills as reflected in effective presentations at seminars, meetings and/or teaching lectures
Initiative and interpersonal skills with desire and ability to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment

Responsibilities

Conduct research related to silicone formulation development for 3D printing, including direct ink writing and other relevant silicone additive manufacturing methods
Design, execute, and analyze experiments to quantify relationships among rheology, cure kinetics, processing conditions, and final mechanical properties
Develop and optimize polymer processing workflows, including mixing, compounding, degassing, and printing, to achieve robust, repeatable material performance
Perform silicone material characterization, including mechanical testing, rheological testing, and thermal testing, and interpret results to guide formulation and process improvements
Implement and maintain data analysis and coding workflows to manage experimental data, enable reproducibility, and accelerate iteration cycles
Integrate automation platforms into formulation, sample preparation, and testing pipelines to increase throughput and consistency
Collaborate with scientists in a multidisciplinary team environment to accomplish research goals
Document research, publish papers in peer-reviewed journals, and present results within the DOE community and at conferences