Job Opportunities

Assistant Professor / Associate Professor / Professor, Department of the Geophysical Sciences – Earth and Planetary Materials The Department of the Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago invites applications for tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor, and tenured faculty positions at the ranks of Associate Professor and Professor. For this search, we welcome applications from all candidates whose research complements or expands the department’s strengths in the broad areas of geochemistry, cosmochemistry, solid-earth geophysics, planetary evolution or those whose work is aligned with the efforts of the University’s Center for the Origins of Life. We seek individuals who will lead world-class research programs and enhance the intellectual endeavors of the department and the university. Ongoing research activities can be found on the  department website. Note: The Department is carrying out a parallel search for an Assistant Professor across all areas of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Candidates applying at

Position Opening: Imaging Beamline Scientist The eBERlight group at the X-ray Science Division (XSD) of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) is currently seeking an assistant beamline scientist to provide support for the biological and environmental research activities at the x-ray Imaging group (IMG) beamlines. The IMG group operates 2-BM, 7-BM and 32-ID beamlines with a broad set of full-field imaging instruments, including ultrahigh-speed imaging, nano-meter resolution 2D and 3D imaging and high-speed micro-tomography. The IMG group develops scientific software methods for data analysis and interpretation. These instruments and methods support APS user scientific programs and independent beamline scientist research activities in very broad areas, including materials science, geology and biology. The successful candidate will provide support to both the eBERlight and IMG groups’ scientific user community. The primary focus of this role will be on advancing the applications of x-ray tomography/synchrotron-based full field imaging in the

We invite applications for two Postdoctoral Research Scholars to pursue research in solid-state chemistry, materials science, mineral physics and mineralogy. Successful applicants will perform sample synthesis using solid-state sintering, hydrothermal, and/or high-pressure methods, and conduct sample characterization by various techniques such as synchrotron X-ray scattering, neutron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and calorimetry. Current funded projects focus on a diverse range of materials and applications including 1) clathrate hydrates for noble gas (Kr & Xe) storage and separation; 2) molten chloride and fluoride salts for nuclear energy applications; and 3) refractory mineral/ceramic phases inspired by geological and planetary processes. A particular emphasis is placed on understanding the structural characteristics and phase equilibria of materials under extreme and application-relevant conditions (e.g., pressure, temperature, and aqueous chemistry). The postdocs will work in a highly interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, and collaborative environment and have opportunities of supervising graduate and undergraduate students. The initial appointment is made on

A new search for a staff scientist has opened in Paul Fenter’s group at Argonne. The successful candidate will lead efforts to leverage the unique properties of x-ray coherence to understand geochemical reactivity. The position can be at the level of either an Assistant Scientist or Scientist (similar to an Assistant Professor or Associated Professor in academia). For details, see Posting # 423116 at: Careers | Argonne National Laboratory  (https://www.anl.gov/hr/careers) Assistant Scientist (RD2)/ Scientist (RD3) – Coherent X-ray Scattering of Geochemical Interfaces The candidate will be expected to drive a research program that uses and develops X-ray coherence-based approaches (e.g., Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging, Coherent X-ray Reflectivity, Ptychography, X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy) to understand how the structural complexity of natural minerals influences chemical reactivity.  As such, the scope of the position spans X-ray science, geochemistry and interfacial science. Examples of recent publications are appended, below. The review of applications will

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol as a Senior Research Associate in Petrological Controls on Ore Genesis. This 24-month post is funded by a NERC standard grant investigating how copper is transported through the Earth’s interior in subduction zones to form porphyry copper deposits. The role combines three strands: geological fieldwork in the Laramide Porphyry Province in Arizona; advanced analytical characterisation of natural and experimental samples (including synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy at Diamond Light Source, EPMA, Raman, and LA-ICP-MS); and high-pressure, high-temperature experiments using diamond anvil cells, piston-cylinder presses, and cold-seal pressure vessels. The successful candidate will have research experience in igneous petrology, geochemistry, economic geology, or a closely related field, a PhD (or near completion) in Earth Sciences or a related discipline, experience of geological fieldwork, and familiarity with analytical techniques for characterising geological materials. Experience with

The Bioimaging Team at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate microbe–mineral interactions with a focus on critical minerals. This position offers a unique opportunity to integrate advanced synchrotron-based imaging and spectroscopy with multi-omics approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) to uncover molecular mechanisms governing microbial transformations of critical minerals in natural and engineered systems. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team of scientists working at the forefront of bioimaging and environmental systems science.Click here to learn more and apply

The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced a call for Permanent Associate Program Directors at the AD-3 level (https://www.usajobs.gov/job/873053600), and there is an opportunity to hire within the Earth Sciences Sections of the Directorate for Geosciences (https://www.nsf.gov/geo).  Applications are open until June 22 but are expected to close sooner due to demand. A second posting for Permanent Program Directors at the AD-4 level is expected in the coming weeks. The collaborative and forward-looking Earth Sciences team is excited to welcome new colleagues!

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Geosciences (NSF GEO) is seeking highly qualified individuals interested in serving in science, technology, engineering and mathematics positions through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Program.  Through IPA assignments, individuals from academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and other entities can contribute their expertise while gaining valuable federal experience supporting national science and engineering priorities. NSF GEO invests in projects that advance knowledge and build capacity across the atmospheric, geospace, Earth and ocean sciences. The directorate welcomes interest from individuals with expertise in any areas of the geosciences.  Read more about this IPA opportunity in the recently published Dear Colleague Letter. 

HPCAT at Advanced Photon Source has recently upgraded all its end-stations and with the brightness, coherence and low emittance of the APS-U. We are uniquely positioned to advance cutting-edge, extreme conditions science with a variety of platforms such as dynamic DAC (dDAC), Rotational DAC (RotoDAC), Multi-axis DAC (MDAC) coupled to a suite of probes including white beam Laue, multi-crystal-multi-wavelength diffraction, laser heating and inelastic scattering. In addition, we are in the process of enabling newer techniques such as Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging (BCDI), Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI), X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS) as well as X-ray Diffraction Imaging (XDI). HPCAT is looking for postdoctoral researchers who will join our team and drive exciting science. The overarching theme of research is understanding the solid-melt transition at high pressure-temperature conditions. We invite applicants with high-pressure experience, synchrotron x-ray methods, advanced imaging expertise or background in computational methods and large data analysis. Details

The candidate will be responsible for finalizing the establishment of the FORCE (Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment, https://force.asu.edu/) facility and managing ASU’s high-pressure facility. This position is supported by Arizona State University. Once operational, FORCE will serve as a national center that will attract high-pressure researchers from the U.S. and around the world, and it is expected to operate as a cutting-edge facility for many years. Facility management includes training users to operate the facility’s equipment, maintaining the equipment’s iLab schedule, and conducting high-pressure runs. Duties also include generating training materials as appropriate and developing techniques as needed. The candidate must work effectively as part of a team and have extensive experience with multi-anvil press operation. For the full position description, see the application portal: https://apply.interfolio.com/179571 The initial application deadline is February 12, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve