- Postdoctoral Researcher Swarthmore
- Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA, United States
- jobs
- 3 weeks ago
jobs description
Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college
located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines
academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong
institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and
nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment
practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the
goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the
nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College
is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and
world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with
gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in
the Crum Woods.
Who We Are:
We invite applications for an experimental research postdoctoral
position in the Smith Materials Lab led by Associate Prof. Hillary
Smith in the Physics Department at Swarthmore College. The Smith
Materials Lab is an interdisciplinary group of undergraduate
students and research staff that thrives on teamwork and welcomes
diverse candidates to join us.
The opportunity:
The Smith Materials lab is seeking a highly motivated researcher
with a PhD in materials science, physics, applied physics,
mechanical engineering, or closely related field. This DOE-funded
position is for a research project aimed at investigating dynamics
in glass-forming liquids. Ongoing projects study a variety of
glasses including metallic, oxide, molecular, and chalcogenide
glasses. Neutron scattering experiments, with a focus on
quasielastic and inelastic measurements, are performed at national
user facilities, particularly the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak
Ridge National Laboratory. The postdoctoral fellow will be
encouraged to lead the project, collaborate with the PI and
undergraduate students on high-impact publications, and present at
key conferences in the field. Applicants with strong experimental
skills and experience in neutron or X-ray scattering are especially
encouraged to apply.
The Smith Materials Lab is an interdisciplinary group of
undergraduate students and research staff that thrives on teamwork
and welcomes diverse candidates to join us. The successful
candidate will have excellent communication skills and a keen
interest in developing leadership and mentoring skills. The
successful candidate will work closely with undergraduate students
at Swarthmore College. Therefore, demonstrated teamwork ability and
experience in mentoring is required.
The position provides plenty of opportunities to interact with
faculty, postdocs, and undergraduate students in other departments
at Swarthmore College and with national and international
collaborators.
This is a limited-term position and is renewed on an annual
basis.
Essential Responsibilities
• Perform neutron scattering experiments, analyze, and interpret
data.
• Write beamtime proposals and scientific research papers, and
present research in written and oral form internally and
externally.
• Perform lab-based materials preparation and
characterization.
• Mentor undergraduate research students.
• Perform lab chores and instrument maintenance.
What you bring:
Required Qualifications
• PhD in materials science, physics, applied physics, mechanical
engineering
• Demonstrated background in condensed-matter physics
• Demonstrated mathematical and computational skills
• Experience with spectroscopy
Physical Demands
• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, kneel and
crouch while performing essential responsibilities.
• The position requires the ability to focus in a stationary
position, including at a desk in front a computer.
• Occasionally required to lift, carry or transport objects
weighing up to 50lbs.
Working Conditions / Environment
• Exposure to chemicals, irritants, dusts, and fumes.
• May occasionally perform work in confined or underground
spaces.
• May occasionally perform work near sources of radiation or
vibrating and moving machine parts.
What You Will Get:
You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts
Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and
a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate,
creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College
students, faculty, and staff.
We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role!
Submit applications with pay expectations, including a resume and
cover letter for full consideration.
PA Criminal Required
Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all
staff positions prior to the start of employment.
Education Verification Required by Position
An education verification is required for this position because a
college degree is a required qualification for this position.
Review the 2024 Benefits Flyer .
We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit
eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to
their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their
accounts on the date participation begins.
Swarthmore Benefits
Guidebook
Retirement
Plans
Tuition
Grant Program
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Paid Time Off (Staff)
Holiday Schedule
Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from
candidates with
exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable
commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore
College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and those with
underrepresented identities are encouraged to apply.
Advertised: Aug 19 2024 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:
Swarthmore PA United States