Postdoctoral Appointee - X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Soils

The mission of the Biosciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory is to conduct multidisciplinary research on fundamental biogeochemical processes related to environmental microbiology, microbial communities and dynamics, and microbial evolution. The Molecular Environmental Science and Biogeochemical Process Group focusses its research efforts on developing a mechanistic understanding of coupled hydrologic and biogeochemical processes in aquatic, near surface, and subsurface systems.

We invite you to apply for a Postdoctoral Appointee position within the Molecular Environmental Science and Biogeochemical Process Group to work on multi-institution projects funded by the United States Department of Energy and related to its mission to enhance the predictive understanding of terrestrial-aquatic and wetland systems.

Research focuses on how the coupled interactions of waters, soils, and plants drive the fluxes and microbial transformations of carbon, nutrients, critical materials, and redox-active elements such as Fe and S. Field site activities focus on the Cottonwood Lake Study Area (CLSA) within the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), the Old Woman Creek field site near Lake Erie, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center at Chesapeake Bay.

We seek persons with expertise in the application of synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy to problems in Environmental Chemistry, Biogeochemistry, or Soil Science. Skill in the operation of the equipment necessary for these techniques (e.g., knowledge of x-ray optics and beam line setup procedures) and in the analysis of x-ray absorption spectroscopy data is a must. Applicants must have strong communication skills (written and oral) and have the ability to work within an integrated multidisciplinary scientific research group and with scientists from a variety of scientific backgrounds, such as microbiology, chemistry, x-ray physics, hydrology, geochemistry, soil science, and computer modeling.

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