Ames National Laboratory Scientist III/IV

Job description

Position Title:Ames National Laboratory Scientist III/IV


Job Group:Professional & Scientific


Required Minimum Qualifications:Ph.D. and 8 years of related experience


Preferred Qualifications:Demonstrated experience in proposal writing and budgeting.

Experience with supervision and/or training of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research staff.

Demonstrated experience in leading multi-PI research projects and ensuring overall project management and meeting all goals/milestones to satisfy sponsor requirements.

Demonstrated record of communicating results and research directions to program managers across different funding agencies.

Demonstrated record of research publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Alternatively, in an industrial research setting, must demonstrate a record of internal reporting and leadership in developing, setting, and communicating innovative technology directions.

Demonstrated hands-on experience with experimental methods and analytical treatments that are commonly used in metallurgical processing research, including, but not limited to, advanced manufacturing via powder methods, strip casting of magnetic alloys, mechanical and microstructural characterization, magnetic/mechanical/thermal/electrical property characterization.

Demonstrated experience with or knowledge of magnet manufacturing methods, including powder-based and casting routes and heat treatment.

Demonstrated experience to assemble and lead interdisciplinary teams of researchers, including modelers and theorists, experimentalists, microscopists, etc.

Demonstrated experience with characterization methods and analytical treatments that are commonly used in metallurgical and materials science research, including electron beam-based microstructural analysis and semi-quantitative chemical techniques, as well as e-beam, X-ray, neutron, and photon-based surface probe methods, (e.g., EBSD, XRD, NMR, AES, and XPS).

Experience with thermodynamic modeling (e.g., CALPHAD), solidification modeling, and/or atomistic modeling typically used to contribute to alloy design investigations with specific processing methods, e.g., additive manufacturing, and with final property targets in mind.

Familiarity with other types of electronic structure modeling and methods of processing kinetics modeling or simulation methods, again with specific processing methods and with property goals that are preferred.


Job Description:
Would you like to work for a National Laboratory that conducts world-renowned research?

Would you enjoy working on a beautiful university campus?

Can you imagine yourself in a mid-sized location that regularly ranks as one of the U.S. Best Places to Live (https://www.ameslab.gov/careers-and-internships/life-ames) ?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider a career with Ames National Laboratory!


Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy federally contracted National Laboratory located in Ames, Iowa, on the campus of Iowa State University.

We are dedicated to translating foundational science through applied research to create technological innovations.

We create materials, inspire minds to solve problems, and address some of the most challenging issues facing our world today.

We promote and believe in a culture of civility and shared ownership in support of the Laboratory's collective success.




The Ames Laboratory Division of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) within the Ames National Laboratory, is seeking candidates for the position of Scientist III or IV to advance fundamental and applied research focused on alloy development and powder synthesis for extreme environments, experimental and computational solidification studies including non-equilibrium processing, thermodynamic modeling, electronic structure based calculations, magnet manufacturing via the Advanced Magnet Facility, and advanced materials processing through the Critical Materials Refinery.


The Scientist III or IV position conceives, designs and conducts studies of materials sciences including, but not limited to, metal and alloy refining and synthesis (e.g., additive manufacturing, gas atomization, plasma melting, electron beam melting, induction melting) manufacturing methods (e.g., rolling, forging, extrusion), synthesis and testing of hard and soft magnetic materials, alloy development and synthesis for extreme conditions (e.g., fission and fusion energy), and integration of smart manufacturing methods via collaborations with subject-matter experts in machine learning and artificial intelligence.


The position collaborates with the supervisor and other PIs in the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering within the Ames National Laboratory; invents, performs and supervises experiments; interprets the results; presents and defends research at professional meetings; drafts manuscripts for publication with collaborating co-authors; guides experimenters in the conduct of experimentation and the interpretation of results; and writes research proposals for future funding of research projects (as PI or co-PI).


The duties of this position also collaborating and/or supervising with Research Technologists working within the AMF and the Critical Materials Refinery.

The ability to interface with a diverse team of administrative staff and materials processing and design professionals, computational and theoretical modeling experts, as well as physical sciences and engineering professionals, is essential for success in this position.


In addition to the above, the Ames Laboratory Scientist IV would be responsible for writing proposals to government funding calls, supporting funded activities on the topics mentioned above, building a broader network of industrial, national lab, and academic partners, and supporting the laboratory strategic goals.


C andidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.




Scientist III Required qualifications:

+ Ph.D. and 5 years of related experience


Scientist IV Required qualifications:

+ Ph.D. and 8 years of related experience



Appointment Type:Regular


Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period


Time Type:Full time


Pay Grade:PS814


Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application.

Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter

3) List of Professional ReferencesIf you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)• Life insurance and long-term disability• Flexible Spending Accounts• Various voluntary benefits and discounts• Employee Assistance Program• Wellbeing program• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions.

WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work.

For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.


Original Posting Date: October 2, 2025


Posting Close Date:November 2, 2025


Job Requisition Number:R17890



By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference.

With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world.

And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds.

Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.



Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff.

Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) .

Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.



All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.



Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran.

Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel.

515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.



If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485.

Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485.

TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.




General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website.

Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.

Required Skill Profession

Other General