Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Postdoctoral Research Program provides mentored training to enhance professional skills and research independence for individuals who have recently earned their doctoral degree and are pursuing their chosen career path. We have an opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate mineral assemblages and geochemical signatures in legacy mine tailings as indicators of critical-mineral potential. Candidates from mineralogy, geology, geochemistry, mining, hyperspectral imaging, multimodal data science, machine learning, and/or related disciplines are encouraged to apply. This position is in the Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division, within the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate. You will Combine whole-tailings chemistry, hyperspectral and other quantitative imaging, and complementary characterization data to identify abundant mineral proxies and assemblages associated with trace critical minerals. Evaluate relationships among site geology, ore-processing history, mineral alteration, weathering, and spectral response, with a major focus on identifying the visible and near-infrared to short-wavelength infrared (VNIR-SWIR) features and wavelength bands most useful for recognizing critical-mineral proxy assemblages under laboratory and field conditions. Examine how mineral mixing, grain size, moisture, surface roughness, and weathering influence spectral detection and uncertainty. Design and implement statistical, chemometric, and/or machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques and reproducible quantitative workflows in one or more of the above areas. Actively participate in conception, design, and execution of independent (but complementary) research and collaborate with a broad spectrum of scientists (geologists, mineralogists, microscopists, spectroscopists, data scientists, physicists, and engineers developing field-deployable characterization systems) internally and externally to the Laboratory to achieve project goals. Organize, analyze, and present results at external conferences, seminars and/or technical meetings; and publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals. Perform other duties as assigned.