Careers

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at Queen’s University, Canada, invites applications for two full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate positions to join the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) program in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies, led by Prof. Yanwen Zhang. Interested applicants should contact Prof. Zhang directly at yanwen.zhang@queensu.ca with a cover letter, CV, and names of two referees.

Project Opportunity

Nuclear energy provides over half of Ontario’s electricity and close to 13% of Canada’s total electricity demand, making it the country’s second-largest source of non-emitting electricity. As the demand for clean energy grows, improving the performance and durability of nuclear materials is critical. However, conventional alloy development and traditional materials science approaches remain insufficient for addressing the challenges posed by extreme reactor environments. Fundamental mechanisms governing materials performance under irradiation are not fully understood, limiting the design of next-generation materials for safer, longer-lasting reactors.

The RE-MAT (Radiation Effects in Materials and Advanced Technologies) team within the CERC program adopts a multidisciplinary approach combining experimental and computational methods. Focused on concentrated solid-solution alloys, conventional dilute alloys, and complex ceramic materials, this research aims to develop radiation-resistant materials with enhanced structural stability and deformation tolerance under high temperature, stress, and radiation environments. Collaborative efforts with academic institutions, national laboratories, and industry partners aim to accelerate materials innovation for nuclear energy systems, contributing to Canada’s low-carbon future.

Role Description

The successful candidates will conduct microstructural characterization and advance the understanding of the formation and evolution of radiation-induced defects, defect clusters, dislocations, and elemental segregation in structural and functional materials. Collaboration with both experimentalists and theorists, as well as active participation in enhancing the research activities of the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL), are key components of this role. Significant opportunities are available for scientific publications and collaborative experimental–modeling research.

Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Apply advanced electron microscopy and materials characterization techniques to study radiation effects in complex alloys and ceramics.
• Use high-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning TEM (STEM), including HAADF-STEM, to characterize atomic-scale defects and elemental distributions.
• Employ Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) for nanoscale elemental analysis and chemical bonding assessment.
• Utilize Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) to assess phase stability and lattice distortions caused by radiation damage.
• Perform site-specific sample preparation using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) techniques; experience with Atom Probe Tomography (APT) is advantageous for 3D compositional mapping.
• Analyze and correlate microscopy results to underlying radiation damage processes and mechanisms.
• Work with other team members to maintain a high level of scientific productivity. Present and report research results and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality requirements.

Qualifications:  

• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related field with several years of relevant research experience in advanced microscopy and materials characterization skills; must have completed all degree requirements before starting the appointment and be within 4 years of receiving the Doctorate degree.
• In-depth knowledge and a minimum of three years of demonstrated experience in radiation effects research in metal alloys and/or ceramics.
• Strong record of productive and creative research demonstrated by publications, both as a lead author and a contributor.
• 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 required timeframes.
• Motivated and safety-conscious, with excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills in English for engaging with an international scientific audience.

Application Process:

Please submit a cover letter, CV (including full publication list), and contact information for two referees to Prof. Yanwen Zhang at yanwen.zhang@queensu.ca. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at Queen’s University, Canada, invites applications for two full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate positions to join the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) program in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies, a federal funded $8M project led by Prof. Yanwen Zhang. Interested applicants should contact Prof. Zhang directly at yanwen.zhang@queensu.ca with a cover letter, CV, and names of two referees.

Project Opportunity

Nuclear energy provides over half of Ontario’s electricity and close to 13% of Canada’s total electricity demand, making it the country’s second-largest source of non-emitting electricity. As the demand for clean energy grows, improving the performance and durability of nuclear materials is critical. However, conventional alloy development and traditional materials science approaches remain insufficient for addressing the challenges posed by extreme reactor environments. Fundamental mechanisms governing materials performance under irradiation are not fully understood, limiting the design of next-generation materials for safer, longer-lasting reactors.

The RE-MAT (Radiation Effects in Materials and Advanced Technologies) team within the CERC program adopts a multidisciplinary approach combining experimental and computational methods. Focused on concentrated solid-solution alloys, conventional dilute alloys, and complex ceramic materials, this research aims to develop radiation-resistant materials with enhanced structural stability and deformation tolerance under high temperature, stress, and radiation environments. Collaborative efforts with academic institutions, national laboratories, and industry partners seek to accelerate materials innovation for nuclear energy systems, contributing to Canada’s low-carbon future.

This project focuses on understanding radiation effects in complex materials, including high-entropy materials (HEMs). The chemical complexity, driven by local elemental variation, enables a wide range of tunable bonding environments that are not achievable in conventional materials. Under extreme conditions, such as high temperature, pressure, or irradiation, these materials can be driven from thermal equilibrium into far-from-equilibrium states. Substitutional disorder in HEMs significantly influences defect dynamics and energy dissipation mechanisms, presenting unique challenges in predicting their behavior under irradiation. A mechanistic understanding requires detailed knowledge of elemental distribution, associated electronic structures, lattice distortion, and the resulting scattering and energy transfer processes. Harnessing this chemical disorder to control physical properties, optimize energy transport, and improve irradiation tolerance is essential for the development of advanced nuclear materials and other energy technologies. Gaining such insights will enable the design of complex materials with tailored functionalities and enhanced performance, opening new directions in materials science research. 
 

Role Description

The successful candidates will work closely with the RE-MAT team to investigate how tunable bonding environments and energy deposition from energetic particles influence the structure and properties of complex materials. This research aims to elucidate fundamental mechanisms governing defect generation, migration, and evolution under irradiation. Multi-scale modeling methods will be used, including density functional theory (DFT), ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD), classical molecular dynamics (MD), two-temperature MD (2T-MD), and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC). The work will focus on both nuclear and electronic energy deposition mechanisms, explicitly accounting for electron–phonon coupling and ionization effects, which are increasingly recognized as critical in modeling damage formation beyond traditional displacement damages alone. Collaboration with experimental teams will ensure validation of simulation predictions and refinement of modeling approaches, with particular emphasis on how chemical disorder and multi-elemental interactions affect defect dynamics. The goal is to provide mechanistic understanding of phenomena, such as defect clustering, radiation-induced segregation, ionization-induced defect annihilation, and amorphization, bridging fundamental science with applied materials development.

Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Conduct atomistic and mesoscale simulations of defect generation and radiation-induced damage in complex materials.
• Density functional theory (DFT) modeling bonding characteristics to elucidate the intrinsic nature and strength of bonds between atoms.
• High–throughput DFT calculations & ab initio Modeling to identify stable defects and compositions.
• Advancing modeling techniques to understand short-range disorder, defect formation, and evolution of various radiation-induced damage structures in HEMs.
• Work with other team members to maintain a high level of scientific productivity. Present and report research results and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality requirements.

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, AIMD, on-the-fly machine-learning, classical MD, and 2T-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 required 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.

Application Process:

Please submit a cover letter, CV (including full publication list), and contact information for two referees to Prof. Yanwen Zhang at yanwen.zhang@queensu.ca. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at Queen’s University, Canada, invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate position to join the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) Program in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies, a federally funded $8M initiative led by Prof. Yanwen Zhang. Interested applicants should contact Prof. Zhang directly at yanwen.zhang@queensu.ca with a cover letter, CV, and names of two referees.

Project Opportunity

This project focuses on advancing the understanding of radiation effects in complex materials, including high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and high-entropy ceramics (HECs). The chemical complexity arising from local elemental variation creates diverse and tunable bonding environments, often not achievable in conventional materials. Under extreme conditions, such as ion irradiation, these materials exhibit unique non-equilibrium responses driven by substitutional disorder and complex energy dissipation mechanisms.

Ion beam modification and analysis techniques are central to this research, enabling controlled introduction of radiation damage, as well as in situ and ex situ characterization of defect formation and damage evolution, and microstructural responses. By combining ion irradiation with advanced characterization, this work aims to uncover the fundamental mechanisms linking chemical disorder and defect behavior to materials performance under irradiation. The ultimate goal is to support the development of radiation-tolerant materials for nuclear energy systems and other advanced technologies operating in extreme environments.

The RE-MAT (Radiation Effects in Materials and Advanced Technologies) team, based within the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) Program and the Queen’s Nuclear Materials Group, integrates experimental research with computational modeling. Utilizing the capabilities of the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL) at Queen’s University (Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory | Queen's University), and collaborating with national laboratories, academic partners, and industry, this research aims to accelerate materials innovation and contribute to Canada’s low-carbon energy future.

Role Description:

The successful candidate will design, execute, and analyze ion irradiation experiments to investigate radiation-induced defect processes in complex alloys and ceramics. Working closely with Prof. Zhang and the RE-MAT research team, the candidate will carry out light and heavy ion irradiations across a range of energies and temperatures, focusing on both nuclear and electronic energy deposition mechanisms. Resulting defect formation, clustering, dislocation structures, and elemental segregation will be studied, with particular attention to the role of chemical complexity.

The candidate will collaborate with modeling colleagues to correlate experimental observations with computational predictions, refining mechanistic understanding of defect evolution and radiation damage processes. Responsibilities include leading data analysis, preparing technical reports, and authoring peer-reviewed publications, as well as presenting findings at international conferences. This position offers substantial opportunities for scientific leadership within a growing research team and professional development in experimental ion beam research applied to nuclear materials.

Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Perform ion irradiations using a variety of ion species (e.g., H, He, Ni, Au) at controlled temperatures to simulate radiation environments.
• Conduct Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) in both random and crystalline/channeling directions, Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (ERDA), and other surface and microstructural characterization techniques to assess composition, crystallinity, and radiation-induced structural changes.
• Work collaboratively within the RE-MAT team and with external partners to integrate experimental findings into broader materials development objectives.
• Collaborate with team members to maintain a high level of scientific productivity. Lead the preparation of journal publications and conference presentations in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards in all research activities.

Qualifications:  

• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field, with a strong focus on ion beam techniques and radiation effects in materials; must have completed all degree requirements before starting the appointment and be within four years of receiving their doctorate.
• Minimum of three years of hands-on experience in ion irradiation experiments and ion beam analysis.
• Demonstrated understanding of radiation damage processes, ion-solid interactions, and microstructural evolution in alloys or ceramics.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals relevant to radiation effects.
• Experience working at ion accelerator facilities or in radiation environments is highly desirable.
• Excellent project management and communication skills, with the ability to work both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Motivated, safety-conscious, and capable of innovative, independent research contributing to broader collaborative goals.

Application Process:

Queen’s University is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. Please submit a cover letter, CV (including a full publication list), and contact information for two referees to Prof. Yanwen Zhang at yanwen.zhang@queensu.ca. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We are looking for enthusiastic candidates for two postdoctoral positions in mechanical properties, irradiation effects and microstructure characterization of engineering alloys. These positions will support activities of the UNENE Research Chair in Nuclear Materials. Please write directly to Prof. Daymond (daymond@queensu.ca) with CV, cover letter and the names of two referees.

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 include Zr, Fe, and Ni based alloys, as well as the impact of irradiation. 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. 

Role Description

We are looking to fill two postdoctoral roles. Firstly, we are looking for an experimentalist who is comfortable with transmission electron microscopy. The second position is more open, experimentalists with experience of x-ray diffraction (especially synchrotron), electron microscopy and/or mechanical testing should apply. The successful candidates 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 which now includes 7 Professors at Queen’s. Working with the PI and a multi-disciplinary team of graduate students, Post-Doctoral Fellows, senior researchers, and visitors, the incumbents will have significant opportunities to work with industry and for publications, and conference attendance.  A significant strength of the group is the close collaboration between experimentalists and modeller. These positions are part of the Nuclear Materials Group within the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at Queen’s University.  

Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Conduct thermomechanical 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, using electron microscopy and other techniques.
• 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 characterisation of metals
• Experience in advanced materials characterization and analysis techniques of metal alloys under extreme conditions. Proficiency in Transmission Electron Microscopy to characterise material structures is required for one of the positions.
• 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.