Postdoctoral Research Associate I

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• The successful applicant will conduct original research related to the origins of refractory calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), the first solids to have formed in the solar system. Duties include: (i) construction and cataloging of thermochemical databases, (ii) using density functional theory to compute the thermochemical properties of mineral phases relevant to CAIs and their solid solutions for which appropriate thermochemical data may be lacking, and (iii) constructing thermodynamic models and calculating the phase diagrams of those systems. The candidate will be part of a team focused on characterizing CAIs down to the atomic level using electron microscopy and comparing the characterization data with model output to infer the thermodynamic conditions and chemical pathways through which CAI phases formed. Thus, participating in group meetings, presenting results at conferences, and preparing original scientific research manuscripts are expected activities.
• The successful applicant will also participate in team meetings, presentation of results at conferences, and preparation of original scientific research manuscripts.

• PhD in the field of Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Earth and Planetary Science, or a related field at the time of the appointment.

• Experience with the CALculation of PHase Diagram (CALPHAD) framework to compute and model the thermochemical properties of materials.
• Experience with density functional theory to model the free-energy functions of materials.
• Experience with Thermocalc software to calculate phase diagrams