Critical Minerals Recovery Specialist

Role details

NIST is seeking a Critical Minerals Recovery Specialist to serve as a project scientist responsible for leading original research to develop measurement platforms that quantify the thermodynamics and kinetics of functionalized polymeric membranes and sorbents used to recover critical minerals from acidic solutions digested from electronic waste streams. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

- The major duties of the Critical Minerals Recovery Specialist include: Working independently, exercising independent judgment to design specialized instrumentation, refine analytical methodologies, and evaluate polymer ligand-metal ion binding mechanisms in complex, highly acidic leachate solutions containing dissolved mono-, di-, and trivalent metal ions. Integrating membrane science, electrochemistry, and pyrometallurgy. Operating with high autonomy in technical decision-making, resolving complex separation measurement challenges and ensuring data integrity. Conducting studies on model materials.

Authoring peer-reviewed publications, presenting findings, and generating foundational reference data required by industry to optimize sorbents, membranes, and separation processes. Collaborating closely with interdisciplinary teams across NIST's critical minerals portfolio, actively engaging with external contacts - including industry stakeholders, recyclers, and academic researchers - to align measurement platforms with national critical mineral supply chain priorities.

Basic Requirements: Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. OR Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must also have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 (ZP-II at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as: (a) Experience in separations methods using polymer membranes and sorbents (b) Experience in characterization methods for ion containing and charged polymers (c) Experience in isothermal titration calorimetry measurements OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree as defined in the basic requirements OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as defined in the additional requirements.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Application deadline: 2026-11-09