Postdoctoral Spectroscopy Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Sandia
Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov
*These benefits vary by job classification.
What Your Job Will Be Like
We are seeking a motivated experimental postdoctoral appointee to join the Ultrafast Chemical Dynamics Laboratory led by Dr. Krupa Ramasesha. The scientific focus of this appointment is to understand how coupled electronic and structural dynamics shape early photochemical events, including bond dissociation, conformational evolution, and charge transfer, in complex molecular systems. The postdoctoral appointee will apply advanced time-resolved methods to probe electronic excited-state dynamics, with an emphasis on ultrafast core-level spectroscopy enabled by an in-house table-top high-harmonic generation source of femtosecond extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray pulses. The position also offers opportunities to help develop and participate in user-facility campaigns using ultrafast electron diffraction and free-electron lasers. Working closely with theorists and experimentalists, the successful candidate will interpret time-resolved measurements by connecting experimental observables to coupled electronic and nuclear dynamics.
This position provides an opportunity to develop deep expertise in excited-state molecular dynamics and cutting-edge time-resolved measurements, while building advanced technical skills in ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optics, XUV/soft X-ray spectroscopy, optical systems, and vacuum instrumentation.
On any given day, the postdoc may be called on to:

• Operate high-power femtosecond lasers, and design, build, and optimize optical and vacuum systems.
• Perform ultrafast core-level spectroscopy using a high-harmonic generation source of femtosecond soft X-ray pulses.
• Acquire, analyze, and interpret time-resolved experimental data in collaboration with theorists and other experimentalists.
• Contribute to the development of user proposals and participate in experiments at ultrafast electron diffraction and free-electron laser user facilities.
• Document research findings in peer-reviewed publications.

The postdoctoral appointee is expected to publish research in peer-reviewed scientific journals, present at national and international conferences, and contribute to a collaborative research environment.
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.
Qualifications We Require
Qualifications We Require

• Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, or other related fields
• Significant experience with femtosecond amplified laser systems, nonlinear optics, and instrumentation

Qualifications We Desire
Qualifications We Desire

• Strong background in ultrafast spectroscopy and excited-state dynamics
• Experience with high-harmonic generation of XUV/soft X-ray pulses
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare peer-reviewed publications, evidenced by a strong publication record
• Demonstrated ability to address complex problems creatively
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Experience with MATLAB, LabVIEW, Python, and related software

About Our Team
The Gas Phase Chemical Physics Department is part of Sandia's Combustion Research Facility (CRF) in Livermore, California, where over 100 scientists, engineers, and technologists conduct basic and applied research to improve our nation's capabilities in gas-phase chemical physics. Under the principal sponsorship of the Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences, the Gas Phase Chemical Physics Department conducts fundamental experimental, theoretical, and modeling research to develop a foundational understanding of the complex chemical reactions that occur either directly in the gas phase or influenced by it. Research areas include chemical dynamics and spectroscopy, advanced diagnostics, ultrafast physics and chemistry, chemical kinetics, multi-phase chemical physics, high-pressure combustion, and gas-surface interactions.
Posting Duration
This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
Security Clearance
This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.
Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.
If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.
Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.
EEO
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.
NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs
If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.
If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.
Position Information
This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.
Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.