Careers

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate for postdoctoral position(s) on modeling defect formation and dynamics in complex alloys and ceramics. This position will be part of the recently $8M funded Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIRS (CERC) program.

Project Opportunity
This project focuses on radiation effects in high-entropy materials (HEMs). The composition complexity in HEMs gives rise to local chemical disorder and a diverse range of tunable bonding environments not typically possible in conventional materials. Extreme conditions, such as high temperature, current, pressure, and radiation environments, can push materials from thermal equilibrium to far-from-equilibrium states. Substitutional disorders in HEMs are expected to modify defect dynamics and energy dissipation processes, posing unique challenges in predicting their performance. To reveal the atomic and/or electronic structure responsible for differences in material properties, it is crucial to effectively describe elemental distribution, the accompanying electronic structures, and lattice distortion, as well as the corresponding scattering mechanisms and energy transfer processes. Understanding how chemical disorder can be harnessed to tailor physical properties, enhance or control energy transport, and improve irradiation tolerance is key for advanced technological applications. This knowledge of chemical disorder and elemental substitution will enable the design of complex materials with specific functionalities and improved performance, opening numerous exciting research directions in materials science.

The Role
The successful candidates will work closely with the CERC, Prof. Yanwen Zhang to conduct research activities. The activities also include collaboration with other experimentalists and theorists in the Nuclear Materials Group. Working with the PI and a multi-disciplinary team of graduate students, Post-Doctoral Fellows, and senior researchers, the incumbent will have significant opportunities for joint experiment-modeling-theory efforts and publications. This position is part of the Nuclear Materials Group within the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at Queen’s University.

Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Conduct studies of defects, defect processes, and radiation effects in complex materials in a radiation environment.
• Density functional theory (DFT) modeling of bonding characteristics to elucidate the intrinsic nature and strength of bonds between atoms.
• High–throughput DFT calculations & ab initio Modeling to identify stable compositions and defects.
• Advancing modeling techniques to understand short-range disorder, defect formation, and evolution of various radiation-induced damage structures in HEMs.
• Responsible for presenting and reporting research results and publishing scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Self-motivated and working with other team members to maintain a high level of scientific productivity.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements.
• Maintain strong commitment to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics.

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related field with several years of relevant modeling experience; must have completed all degree requirements before starting the appointment and be within 4 years of receiving their Doctorate.
• In-depth knowledge and a minimum of three years of demonstrated experience in modeling radiation effects in metal alloys or ceramics.
• Experience in advanced modeling and data analysis techniques of complex metal alloys and/or ceramics performance under extreme conditions. For example, proficiency in DFT, ab initio molecular dynamics, on-the-fly machine-learning, classical molecular dynamics (MD), and two–temperature MD to achieve detailed insights into material structures at the electronic and atomic level, including bonding characteristics, partial charge transfer and electron redistribution, and potential transient ionization in scenarios far from equilibrium.
• Strong record of productive and creative research demonstrated by publications, both as a lead author and a contributor, in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills, with adaptability and flexibility. Able to anticipate deadlines, prioritize activities and tasks, and independently set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within limited timeframes.
• Capable of innovative, independent research with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and interact effectively with a broad range of colleagues, both within and outside the Nuclear Materials Group and MME.
• Motivated and safety-conscious, with excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills in English for engaging with an international scientific audience.

Interested applicants, please send your cover letter and CV to l.calang@queensu.ca

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate for postdoctoral position(s) in radiation effects and microstructure characterization of complex alloys and ceramics. This position will be part of the recently $8M funded Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIRS (CERC) program.

Project Opportunity
Current and future energy technologies place pressing demands on materials performance under extreme conditions. The CERC activities focus on the bottom-up science-guided and top-down experience-informed design of structural materials for nuclear reactor systems. While traditional material development has progressively led to better performance of some dilute alloys and conventional ceramics, the lack of understanding of fundamental mechanisms hinders the design of better materials for longer-lived and safer nuclear reactors. In contrast to traditional ‘trial-and-error’ approaches, recent breakthroughs in concentrated alloys and high-entropy ceramics have vastly expanded the compositional space and allow elemental-specific tunability for advanced materials by design. Realistic prediction of materials' radiation responses and degradation mechanisms require understanding the coupled electronic and atomic dynamics. We will investigate equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes in both model complex materials, including high-entropy materials, and well-tested traditional alloys and compounds. This research focuses on the electronic and atomic levels, extending up to bulk materials with properties relevant to nuclear reactor structural applications. The broad goal is to understand deformation tolerance and structural stability of materials under far-from-equilibrium conditions, enabling the rapid development and nuclear qualification of materials to meet the growing demands for safe and economical performance in harsh and aggressive in-service environments. The CERC activities collaborate with academia, national labs, and the nuclear industry to ensure efficient knowledge mobilization and effective application across various fields and sectors of society.

The Role
The successful candidates will work closely with the CERC, Prof. Yanwen Zhang to conduct research activities. The activities also include collaboration with other experimentalists and theorists in the Nuclear Materials Group, enhancing and expanding the experimental techniques at the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL). Working with the PI and a multi-disciplinary team of graduate students, Post-Doctoral Fellows, senior researchers, and visitors to RMTL, the incumbent will have significant opportunities for joint experiment-modeling-theory efforts and publications. This position is part of the Nuclear Materials Group within the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at Queen’s University.

Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Conduct studies of defects, defect processes, and radiation effects in complex materials in a radiation environment.
• Carry out microstructure characterization in ion-induced novel metal alloys and ceramics using a 4 MV tandem accelerator and advanced materials characterization facilities.
• Design experimental plans, prepare samples, and conduct research to understand defect formation, damage accumulation, short-range disorder, and various ion irradiation effects in materials.
• Responsible for presenting and reporting research results and publishing scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Self-motivated and working with other team members to maintain a high level of scientific productivity.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements. 
• Maintain strong commitment to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics.

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related field with several years of relevant research experience; must have completed all degree requirements before starting the appointment and be within 4 years of receiving their Doctorate.
• In-depth knowledge and a minimum of three years of demonstrated experience in radiation effects research in metal alloys and/or ceramics.
• Experience in advanced materials characterization and analysis techniques of complex metal alloys and ceramics performance under extreme conditions. For example, proficiency in high-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy to achieve detailed insights into material structures at the atomic level.
   
• Strong record of productive and creative research demonstrated by publications, both as a lead author and a contributor, in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
   
• Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills, with adaptability and flexibility. Able to anticipate deadlines, prioritize activities and tasks, and independently set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within limited timeframes.
   
• Capable of innovative, independent research with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and interact effectively with a broad range of colleagues, both within and outside RMTL and MME.
   
• Motivated and safety-conscious, with excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills in English for engaging with an international scientific audience.
   

Interested applicants, please send your cover letter and CV to l.calang@queensu.ca

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate for a postdoctoral position in mechanical properties, irradiation effects and microstructure characterization of engineering alloys. This position will support activities of the UNENE Research Chair in Nuclear Materials.

Project Opportunity
The team supported by the UNENE Research Chair (URC) in Nuclear Materials covers a wide range of materials of interest to both the nuclear industry and wider efforts to support the low-carbon transition. Topics are particularly focused on understanding the relationship between microstructure and thermomechanical properties in materials, including Zr, Fe, and Ni based alloys. We are working with both commercial alloys and novel metal alloys. A significant benefit of the Chair program is easy access to the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL) to conduct ion irradiations which can emulate the effects of neutron irradiation. 

The Role
We are looking for an experimentalist with good hands-on skills, who is comfortable with electron microscopy.  The successful candidate will work closely with the URC, Prof. Mark Daymond to conduct research activities. The activities will include collaboration with other experimentalists and theorists in the Nuclear Materials Group. Working with the PI and a multi-disciplinary team of graduate students, Post-Doctoral Fellows, senior researchers, and visitors, the incumbent will have significant opportunities to work with industry and for publications. A significant strength of the group is the close collaboration between experimentalists and modeler. This position is part of the Nuclear Materials Group within the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at Queen’s University.  

Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Conduct thermomechanical (inc. fatigue) testing of metal alloys, both ex situ and within a radiation environment, making use of the RMTL 4 MV tandem accelerator.
• Carry out characterization of microstructure evolution during thermomechanical testing and irradiation.
• Design experimental plans, prepare samples, and carry out data analysis.
• Present and report research results and publishing scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Assist the PI URC in mentorship of junior team members (e.g. PhD students).
• Be self-motivated and able to work with a diverse set of team members, to maintain a high level of scientific productivity.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements.
• Maintain strong commitment to the implementation and continuation of values and ethics.

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related field with several years of relevant research experience; must have completed all degree requirements before starting the appointment and be within 4 years of receiving their Doctorate.
• In-depth knowledge and a minimum of three years of demonstrated experience in mechanical testing and microstructure characterization of metals.
• Experience in advanced materials characterization and analysis techniques of metal alloys under extreme conditions. Proficiency in Transmission Electron Microscopy to characterize material structures is preferred.
• Strong record of productive and creative research demonstrated by publications, both as a lead author and a contributor, in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills, with adaptability and flexibility. Able to anticipate deadlines, prioritize activities and tasks, and independently set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within limited timeframes.
• Capable of innovative, independent research with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and interact effectively with a broad range of colleagues, both within and outside RMTL and MME.
• Motivated and safety-conscious, with excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills in English for engaging with an international scientific audience.

Interested applicants, please send your cover letter and CV to mark.daymond@queensu.ca