Postdoc Appointee - Fuel/Chemical Production Technology Assessment

Argonne National Laboratory

Lemont, IL

ID: 7117247 (Ref.No. 414523)
Posted: December 3, 2022
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Postdoc positions are now open for candidates with expertise and experience in process modeling (preferably using Aspen Plus), technoeconomic analysis (TEA), or environmental life cycle analysis (LCA). The candidate will possess good understanding of petroleum fuels production, hydrogen production from various technologies, carbon dioxide capture, natural gas-based fuels, or advanced fuel and chemical production technologies (such as those converting biomass to liquid fuels, waste to fuels/chemicals), properties of fuels, chemicals, and other products. The candidate will possess system analysis including process modeling, technoeconomic analysis (TEA), environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) and regional analysis.

The candidate will extract energy and emissions data associated with fuel and chemical production technologies from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) database, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency database (e.g., GHGRP, NEI), field data, process simulations, industry reports, the technical literature, and from interactions with other national laboratories, academia, industry, and stakeholders. The candidate will work with researchers within the SAC to expand the GREET model with the new data to enhance and expand the model’s capability of assessing the life-cycle energy use and emissions associated with various transportation fuels and chemicals. 

Position Requirements

  • Qualified individuals should have a doctor’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, petroleum engineering, or related fields.

  • Qualified individuals should have experiences in Aspen Plus process modeling with strong background in chemical engineering principles.

  • Experiences in life cycle analysis.

  • Knowledge in industrial processes (e.g., ammonia production, steel production, etc.) and emerging technologies for the production of fuels, hydrogen, chemical, materials, etc.

  • Knowledge in technologies of carbon dioxide capture, transportation, and storage.

  • Skills in computer programming, skills in Aspen, Python, MS Excel, Excel VBA, MATLAB, mathematical optimization tools.

  • Skilled oral and written communication skills at all levels of the organization.

  • A successful candidate must have the ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork

Job Family

Postdoctoral Family

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

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Please note that all Argonne employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. All successful applicants will be required to provide their COVID-19 vaccination verification as a condition of employment, subject to limited legally recognized exemptions to COVID-19 vaccination.



Argonne is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity in our workforce. As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne prohibits discrimination or harassment based on an individual's age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.