BlueHalo 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. AFRL consists of a multidisciplinary team of chemists, materials scientists, chemical engineers, and physicists working on new technologies for advanced defense applications.  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 Research Scientist will be responsible for carrying out the design and synthesis of organic small molecules and polymers to develop next-generation elastomeric materials for space applications and extreme environments.  Candidates should have strong synthesis skills especially pertaining to chain-growth and controlled polymerizations, organic separations, and purifications.  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 and synthesis of small molecule and polymer platforms for space applications
• Characterization of synthetic platforms and optimization of synthetic parameters
• 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

• 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.
• 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

 

Preferred Skills:

• Wide range of small molecule synthesis skills
• Experience with a range of separation and purification techniques (e.g., column chromatography, distillations, recrystallation, sublimation, etc.)
• Familiarity with the synthesis of poly(siloxane)s
• Small molecule and polymer characterization skills (e.g., NMR, FT-IR, Mass Spec, UV-Vis, PL, Raman, etc.)
• Thermal and Materials characterization skills (e.g., TGA, DSC, DMA, rheology, SAXS/WAXS, SEM/TEM, etc.)

None

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