Overview: 

We are seeking applicants for a technical professional staff member with a strong background in radiochemistry to investigate the coordination chemistry of radioactive complexes relevant to targeted radionuclide therapy. This position resides in the Chemical Separations Group in the Chemical Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Directorate (PSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

As part of the Chemical Separations Group, you will have the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team comprising specialists in organic and polymer synthesis, coordination chemistry, thermodynamics, laser spectroscopy, materials characterization, separations, and computational chemistry. Our labs house state-of-the-art instruments including a triple-quad ICP mass spectrometer, single-crystal X-ray diffractometer, 2D-IR spectrometer, potentiometric titrators, and ultrafast laser systems.  Our radiochemistry facility boasts 6 hoods and 2 gloveboxes equipped for radiological work and several counting instruments, including a gamma counter, liquid scintillation counter, and HPGe detector with autosampler. The successful candidate will conduct research related to the development of novel chelating platforms to advance the implementation of underexplored radioisotopes in targeted radionuclide therapy.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Plan, execute, and support radiological experiments related to the characterization of radioisotope-ligand complexes, including stability constant measurements, radiolabeling kinetics, and in vitro stability studies
• Prepare nonradioactive and radioactive samples, buffers, and reagents
• Use a variety of characterization methods to evaluate radiometal complexation, including radio-TLC, radio-HPLC, potentiometric titrimetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction
• Assist in the management and upkeep of the radiological laboratory, removal of radioactive and hazardous waste, and equipment maintenance
• Assist in the supervision and mentorship of other radiological workers
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and quality program requirements

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related discipline and 2 or more years of relevant experience
• Experience in safely handling radioactive isotopes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in chemistry or a related field
• Experience in nuclear detection methods, such as gamma-ray spectroscopy and liquid scintillation counting
• Experience in wet chemistry techniques; organic/inorganic synthesis experience is a plus
• Background in radioisotope production, radiochemical separations, targeted radiotherapy, or f-element chemistry
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• A strong dedication to overcoming research hurdles through hard work and perseverance
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory 
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs

Special Requirements:

Three letters of reference are required and can be uploaded to your profile or emailed directly to PSDrecruit@ornl.gov.  Please include the title of the position in the subject line.

Work involves various physical requirements and working conditions. As such, a pre-hire physical will be required after offer.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.