Research Scientist - Polymer/Nanocomposite Chemistry

BlueHalo, an AV company, has an opportunity available for a full-time research scientist to work with the Polymer and Responsive Materials Research Team at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), OH. The successful candidate will join a team of diverse and multi-disciplinary scientists with a broad range of skills from synthetic chemistry, nanomaterial development, mechanical engineering, and polymer modeling. The candidate will be responsible for carrying out the design and synthesis of polymers and their composites with nanofillers to develop nanocomposites and soft materials for space applications and extreme environments. Candidates should have strong synthesis skills especially pertaining to polymerization reactions such as polyimide synthesis, nanocomposite synthesis and processing. Furthermore, a knowledge of a wide array of thermal, spectroscopic, and microscopic characterization techniques is desired. The candidate will be expected to contribute to the thought leadership of the project and will have the opportunity to expand their skillset in a wide array of materials chemistry and engineering while refining their written and oral communication skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, synthesis, and processing of polymer and nanocomposite materials
• Structural, thermal, and mechanical characterization of polymer, nanocomposite and soft materials
• Collaboration with other experts to further characterize and expand the applicability of synthetic platforms beyond the chemistry
• Communicate methodologies effectively both written and verbal to a community of peers
• Manage and mentor the research and professional development of junior team members

Requirements:

• This position is working within a government facility and requires US Citizenship (and may require the ability to obtain a security clearance).
• Ph.D. or equivalent experience in Chemistry, Polymer & Materials Science and/or Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 0-2 years' experience
• Ability to understand and apply principles of organic polymer synthesis to develop next-generation materials systems
• Strong quantitative and problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Willingness to collaborate and communicate with other scientists with professionally and personally diverse backgrounds
• Familiarity with productivity software suites (Microsoft Office, Google Suite) that are used for email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, cloud file sharing, and virtual meetings

Additional Skills Preferred:

• Familiarity with the synthesis of polyimide
• Thermal and Materials characterization skills (e.g., SEM/TEM, X-ray diffraction and scattering, Hot Disk analysis, Laser Flash analysis, TGA, DSC, DMA, rheology, etc.)
• Design and synthesis of small molecules
• Small molecule and polymer characterization skills (e.g., NMR, FT-IR, Mass Spec, UV-Vis, PL, Raman, etc.)
• Radiation shielding experiments