"Chemistry Specialist"

Chemistry Specialist

Company:
Virginia Tech

Job Location:
Blacksburg, 24061

Category:
Laboratory and Research

Type:
Full-Time

Job Description

The Department of Mining & Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech seeks a qualified, highly motivated individual for a unique research position in chemical separations of rare earth elements. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, and outside collaborators and is expected to play an active role in the research conducted in Dr. Aaron Noble's group, which focuses on critical material recovery from unconventional sources.

The Chemical Specialist will be responsible for developing and performing rare earth separation tests utilizing standard procedures and methods. The successful candidate will maintain a detailed experimental notebook and perform quality assurance and quality control testing to verify the suitability of various procedures. The Chemical Specialist will develop standard operating procedures for new testing protocols and train new users as needed. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to co-author products that emerge from these efforts including sponsor reports and peer reviewed manuscripts.

Required Qualifications

• BS in chemistry, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience working in a chemical or mineral processing testing laboratory.
• Demonstrated organizational, communication, and collaborative research skills.
• Experience working independently with little direct supervision.
• A demonstrated commitment to safe work practices in the laboratory.
• Ability to obtain and maintain work approval from the research sponsor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous research/university experience.
• Prior experience with hydrometallurgical processes, including leaching, liquid-liquid extraction, adsorption, and/or related methods.
• Prior experience in rare earth element or critical mineral processing.
• Prior experience with mineral digestions, including strong acid digestions, fusions, and/or microwave-assisted digestions.

Pay Band
3

Overtime Status
Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type
Restricted

Salary Information
Commensurate with experience up to budget maximum.

Hours per week
40

Review Date
Jan 19, 2026

Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check. The candidate must also be eligible to work on federally sponsored project.

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