Staff Scientist in Applied Nuclear Theory (Scientists 2/3)
- Req. Number: IRC143344
- Organization : T-2/Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology
- City, State: Los Alamos, New Mexico
What You Will Do
The Applied Theoretical Nuclear Physics team in the Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology (T-2) group at the Theoretical Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking outstanding candidates for a staff scientist position to work on applied nuclear physics for reactions on medium mass nuclei and actinides.
This position will be filled at either the Scientist 2 or Scientist 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Scientist 2 ($106,400-$176,000)
The successful candidate will:
Develop theoretical nuclear models and computational codes and, using these and other tools, to produce peer-reviewed publications and physical data, such as evaluated nuclear data for the ENDF U.S. nuclear data library. A strong background and an established record of high-quality research in one or more of the subjects of fission theory, nuclear reaction and/or structure theory, and nuclear data evaluation is required. This position will be carried out with colleagues at national laboratories, in academia, and in international efforts, particularly those related to nuclear data evaluation such as the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG), the U.S. Nuclear Data Program (USNDP) data library, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Applied Theoretical Nuclear Physics team has close ties with basic research teams in T-2 in nuclear, astrophysics, and quantum computing, and we work frequently with experimental and computational groups at Los Alamos, relationships that the new hire would be expected to strengthen. The successful candidate will be expected to publish in technical, peer-review journals, demonstrate excellent communication skills, and work effectively across organizational boundaries within the Laboratory, and with the international nuclear physics community.
Scientist 3 ($128,000-$215,000)
In addition to above details, the candidate is expected to have demonstrated leadership skills through active collaboration with LANL researchers, international colleagues, and industry partners.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
Additional Job Requirements for Scientist 3:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
Education/Experience at lower level: Positions requires a Bachelor' degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation
Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Note to Applicants:
In addition to submitting their CV, applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter (two-page limit) describing their research interests and addressing the above requirements and qualifications; three letters of reference should be emailed to t2staffsearch2026@lanl.gov (recommendation letters sent through applicants will not be considered). Complete applications received by June 30, 2026 will receive full consideration.
For further questions please contact Amy Lovell at t2staffsearch2026@lanl.gov.
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.
The Applied Theoretical Nuclear Physics team in the Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology (T-2) group at the Theoretical Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is seeking outstanding candidates for a staff scientist position to work on applied nuclear physics for reactions on medium mass nuclei and actinides.
This position will be filled at either the Scientist 2 or Scientist 3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level.
Scientist 2 ($106,400-$176,000)
The successful candidate will:
Develop theoretical nuclear models and computational codes and, using these and other tools, to produce peer-reviewed publications and physical data, such as evaluated nuclear data for the ENDF U.S. nuclear data library. A strong background and an established record of high-quality research in one or more of the subjects of fission theory, nuclear reaction and/or structure theory, and nuclear data evaluation is required. This position will be carried out with colleagues at national laboratories, in academia, and in international efforts, particularly those related to nuclear data evaluation such as the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG), the U.S. Nuclear Data Program (USNDP) data library, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Applied Theoretical Nuclear Physics team has close ties with basic research teams in T-2 in nuclear, astrophysics, and quantum computing, and we work frequently with experimental and computational groups at Los Alamos, relationships that the new hire would be expected to strengthen. The successful candidate will be expected to publish in technical, peer-review journals, demonstrate excellent communication skills, and work effectively across organizational boundaries within the Laboratory, and with the international nuclear physics community.
Scientist 3 ($128,000-$215,000)
In addition to above details, the candidate is expected to have demonstrated leadership skills through active collaboration with LANL researchers, international colleagues, and industry partners.
What You Need
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Experience in research and development with demonstrated record of publication
- Working knowledge of theoretical nuclear reaction models and codes
- Experience in reaction/structure theory of medium-mass nuclei/actinides
- Demonstrated ability to write computer programs in modern languages
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally
Additional Job Requirements for Scientist 3:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:
- Lead and guide interdisciplinary teams consist of nuclear theory, experiment, and application, to develop new theoretical and computational tools for prediction of nuclear reactions
- Recruit and mentor postdocs and junior staff
- Provide leadership in preparing proposals that guide future research directions of the group
Education/Experience at lower level: Positions requires a Bachelor' degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation
Education/Experience at higher level: Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Theoretical Nuclear Physics or a closely related field
- Demonstrated contributions to the area of nuclear reactions, including fission.
- Previous data evaluation experience
- Ease of collaboration with experimentalists.
- Some experience with team building and proposal writing.
- Able to foster an environment of creativity and intellectual vibrancy.
- Multidisciplinary approach to research.
- Ability to obtain Q clearance.
Work Location: The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.
Position commitment: Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.
Note to Applicants:
In addition to submitting their CV, applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter (two-page limit) describing their research interests and addressing the above requirements and qualifications; three letters of reference should be emailed to t2staffsearch2026@lanl.gov (recommendation letters sent through applicants will not be considered). Complete applications received by June 30, 2026 will receive full consideration.
For further questions please contact Amy Lovell at t2staffsearch2026@lanl.gov.
Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Where You Will Work
Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:
§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
§ Dental and vision insurance
§ Free basic life and disability insurance
§ Paid childbirth and parental leave
§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs
§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details
Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
No Clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Regular position: Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.
Internal Applicants: Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call (505)-664-6947.
