Materials Laboratory Director

Role details

Hiring Department

MRR Research & Education

Job Description

The Materials Laboratory Director builds MURR's nuclear materials laboratory, sets its scientific direction, and operates it as a user facility open to industry, national laboratories, and academic researchers. The Director leads the laboratory's strategy and growth, while the PIE Materials Scientist leads day-to-day examination work.

Essential duties (approximate effort)

• Laboratory setup and commissioning (25%). Lead the laboratory's design, layout, equipment selection, procurement, and installation, including shielded and remote handling for radioactive specimens. Develop the commissioning plan, capital equipment roadmap, and budget, and write justifications for equipment and appropriations requests.
• Scientific direction and research program (25%). Set the laboratory's research priorities in irradiation effects, post-irradiation examination, and nuclear materials for advanced reactors. Lead a personal research program, publish, and pursue funding from DOE, NSUF, NEUP, and other agencies.
• User facility operations (25%). Design and run the user program: access modes, proposal intake and technical review, scheduling, user agreements, intellectual property and data terms, and user training. Establish the rate structure and recharge model with MU finance, track usage and outcomes, and report facility metrics.
• Partnerships and outreach (15%). Build relationships with advanced reactor developers, materials vendors, utilities, national laboratories, and MU faculty. Pursue designation as a partner facility in networks such as the DOE Nuclear Science User Facilities, and represent MURR at meetings and in user workshops.
• Team leadership, quality, and safety (10%). Supervise the Irradiation Engineer, PIE Materials Scientist, and Materials Research Technician, mentor students and postdocs, and lead the laboratory's quality assurance program to meet sponsor requirements such as NQA-1. Ensure laboratory work complies with MURR's NRC license, radiation protection program, and experiment review processes.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in materials science and engineering, nuclear engineering, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field.
• At least two years of post-PhD experience in nuclear materials, radiation effects, or post-irradiation examination, at a national laboratory, university, or in industry.
• Demonstrated leadership in setting up or managing a materials characterization, hot cell, or irradiated materials laboratory.
• Record of securing and managing external research funding and of peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated ability to work with industry and government sponsors and to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.

Shift

Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 7 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating or managing a user facility, including user proposal review, scheduling, and access agreements.
• Experience with NSUF or similar DOE access programs, as a user, partner facility, or reviewer.
• Experience implementing ASME NQA-1 or equivalent quality programs.
• Experience with recharge centers or cost-recovery models at a university or national laboratory.
• Established network in the advanced reactor and nuclear materials community.
• Qualifications suitable for a joint or adjunct faculty appointment in an MU academic department.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary Range: $97,552 to $136,656 per year

Grade: GGS M14

University Title: MURR Senior Manager

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Application Materials

• Cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in helping build a new laboratory.
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Include a full publication list

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Other Information

A life-saving operation in the middle of America — the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) — needs you to help guide its future. MURR is expanding its critical cancer-fighting and medical isotope production.

MURR’s reactor is the highest-power university research reactor in the United States, operating at 10 megawatts, 6.5 days a week and 52 weeks a year. The MURR facility enables research across many disciplines – From investigating ancient cultures and how plants respond to their environment, to analyzing industrial materials and developing radiopharmaceuticals that have lifesaving clinical applications. The MURR facility is a reliable resource for researchers, scientists, engineers and students across the country.

Be a part of the future of fighting cancer and saving lives.

Be a part of MURR

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County’s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year.

If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.