Postdoctoral Scholar: X-ray Scattering Studies of Liquid Interface Science and/or Biomembranes

About this position

• Postdoctoral Research Scholar: X-ray Scattering Studies of Liquid
• Interface Science and/or Biomembranes at NSF’s ChemMatCARS, Pritzker
• School of Molecular Engineering
• About this Unit: NSF’s ChemMatCARS, affiliated with the Pritzker
• School of Molecular Engineering (PME), the University of Chicago and
• funded by NSF, is a national user facility for frontier research in
• chemistry and materials science using synchrotron x-rays. It is
• located at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory.
• The mission of ChemMatCARS is to develop and operate world-class
• synchrotron x-ray facilities in the areas of small-molecule
• crystallography, liquid interface scattering, and anomalous small and
• wide-angle scattering to serve the needs of ChemMatCARS users.
• Job Summary: The successful candidate will have access to world-class
• facilities at the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at
• Chicago, and Argonne National Laboratory. The APS and ChemMatCARS
• Advanced Photon Source have undergone major upgrades which are nearing
• completion. As a result, the X-ray beam is more brilliant and
• ChemMatCARS will have new capabilities for studying liquid interfacial
• science, including absorption spectroscopy, biomembranes, and
• heterogeneities. The postdoctoral scholar will be expected to utilize
• and assist in the development of these new capabilities. NSF’s
• ChemMatCARS specializes in measuring molecular ordering and
• element-specific coordination of molecular interfacial structures
• relevant to diverse fields such as chemistry, material sciences,
• molecular biology, biochemistry, and chemical engineering.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop a scientific project in liquid surfaces and interface with guidance from Mark Schlossman and Wei Bu.

• Measure and analyze data, developing necessary analysis tools.

• Present research findings through manuscripts in journals and presentations at workshops and conferences.

• Assist scientific staff in developing new capabilities in liquid interface experiments.

Qualifications

• Applicants should have or be about to obtain a recent Ph.D. in experimental studies of soft or condensed matter physics, physical chemistry, chemical engineering or a closely related field.

Required Skills

• Strong experimental skills and initiative to develop new experiments.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively while pursuing an individual research project.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with liquid interfacial science.

• Experience with synchrotron X-ray scattering or Neutron scattering, including studies of liquid interfaces or biomembranes.

• Proficiency in using and developing data analysis tools using programming languages such as Python, Matlab, C++, or Fortran.

Project Duration

• The expected starting date of the position is October 1, 2026

• The position will be offered for two years with the possibility of a one-year extension.

• Application Process Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by
• sending the following documents to Dr. Wei Bu (weibu@uchicago.edu) and
• Dr. Binhua Lin (blin@uchicago.edu) of the University of Chicago and
• Prof. Mark Schlossman (schloss@uic.edu) of the University of Illinois
• Chicago:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Statement of research interests

• Three recommendation letters

• NSF’s ChemMatCARS, funded by the National Science Foundation, serves
• as a National User Facility providing experimental infrastructure to
• investigate dynamic and structural properties relevant to chemical,
• materials, and physical sciences (https://chemmatcars.uchicago.edu).

• Additional information on benefits and postdoctoral positions at the
• University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering can
• be found at:
• https://pme.uchicago.edu/academics/postdoctoral-researchers.

• We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic
• community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and
• encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals,
• and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement,
• and exchange. The University's Statements on Diversity are at
• https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

• The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal
• Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on
• the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
• identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with
• a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other
• protected classes under the law. For additional information please see
• the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination:
• https://www.uchicago.edu/non-discrimination.

• Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the
• application process should call 773-834-3988 or email
• equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.