Model Polymer Gels and Networks for Rational Sustainable Design
This project aims to create model polymer networks to understand how their structure and chemistry affect mechanical properties and disentanglement for sustainable design.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $82,764/year with $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to conduct research on model polymer gels and networks to understand their structure, mechanical properties, and sustainable design principles.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a doctoral degree within the last 5 years; research conducted onsite at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD; requires prior contact with research adviser.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focused on model polymer gels and networks. The goal is to understand how the molecular structure and chemistry of polymer networks influence their mechanical properties and behavior during disentanglement or dissociation, which is critical for applications in sustainability and impact mitigation.
The research emphasizes polymer networks with well-defined molecular topologies such as functionality, branching, and molecular mass distribution, as well as dynamic or reversible polymer chemistries that introduce labile sites susceptible to catalysis and stimuli-responsive chain cleavage.
Experimental techniques involved include gel-permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering, quasi-static mechanical testing, and high-rate impact testing.
This program is part of the NRC Research Associateship Programs, which provide postdoctoral scientists with opportunities to conduct self-directed research aligned with federal laboratory goals, gain mentorship, and access state-of-the-art facilities.
