Postdoctoral Associate

Job Description

The Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position in the area of heterogeneous catalysis and operando materials characterization. The successful candidate will contribute to an externally funded research program focused on understanding structure-performance relationships in molybdenum-based zeolite catalysts for methane dehydroaromatization.

The postdoctoral associate will play a central role in the processing, analysis, and interpretation of X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) data collected on metal-modified zeolite catalysts under relevant reaction and regeneration environments. This position is well suited for candidates with strong expertise in reactor engineering, spectroscopic techniques, and data analysis who are interested in applying these tools to catalytic reaction engineering and methane conversion chemistry.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, or a closely related field. The Ph.D. must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment, with a minimum of one year of postdoctoral eligibility remaining.
• Experience in X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS), including data processing and spectral fitting.
• Experience using XAS analysis software such as Athena, Artemis, Larch, or equivalent platforms.
• Record of conducting independent research, as demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or prior research experience.
• Evidence of scientific communication through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, conference presentations, or related scholarly activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience analyzing, modeling, and interpreting complex experimental datasets, as demonstrated through prior research projects, publications, or presentations.
• Experience with spectroscopy, scattering, or other materials characterization techniques.
• Familiarity with scripting or computational tools for data processing, such as Python, MATLAB, or equivalent.
• Prior involvement in data-driven research projects in heterogeneous catalysis, reaction engineering, or related fields.
• Demonstrated adaptability to interdisciplinary research, as shown by collaborative projects, joint publications, or work in diverse scientific environments.