PREP0005063 Critical Minerals Researcher

Critical Minerals Calibration Researcher

Project Description:

The Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking a Post-Doctoral Researcher to support critical minerals chemical composition research. Candidates must be US citizens and will report to the NIST Charleston, SC laboratory, which is co-located with the USDOC NOAA Hollings Marine Laboratory. The candidate will develop both solid and solution sampling calibration methods using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), laser ablation (LA) and other techniques characterize the elemental composition of complex material streams such as battery black mass and electronic scrap. These streams contain critical minerals and materials that have economic value, but recovery pathways remain nascent. The driver for this research focuses on validating calibration methods that could potentially port to industry and bolster measurement capabilities across domestic critical materials supply chains.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Method Development: Develop LA and solution-based ICP-MS calibration methods for quantification of critical and toxic metals in complex industrial materials and feedstocks
• Sample Preparation: Prepare sample pellets for LA calibration and analysis; perform microwave-assisted acid digestions of complex secondary materials (e.g., black mass, e-scrap) and associated reference materials
• Experimental Design, Instrumental Analysis and Data Collection: Design sound experiments; Optimize and run ICP-MS instrumentation and couplings; interpret complex datasets; develop and apply high accuracy calibration schemes
• Communication: Prepare findings for peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and oral presentations. Deliverables to include internal Reports of Analysis
• Safety and Compliance: Maintain strict adherence to institutional safety requirements, including hazardous chemical handling protocols; protect intellectual property of candidate research materials

Desired Qualifications: 

• **U.S. Citizens Only**
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Proven experience with acid digestions, and trace element quantification is required; fundamental knowledge about plasma source mass spectrometry and LA-ICP-MS
• Excellent written/oral communication; track record of meeting milestones in multidisciplinary teams; demonstrated first author publications
• Must be comfortable working with caustic and corrosive chemicals and working in a laboratory that maintains strict clean sample preparation protocols ensuring low blanks and cross contamination
• Familiarity with metal extraction and preservation chemistry, Li battery chemistry, rare earth and toxic metals analyses

Other Details:

• Full-time: the participant is expected to work 40 hours a week
• Location: the participant will work at the NIST Charleston, SC Campus.
• Duration: this is expected to be a one-year position. Extensions are sometimes granted depending on the availability of funds.