Posting Title
Postdoctoral Research Position: Battery Fabrication, Characterization, and Testing
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Location
CO - Golden
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Position Type
Postdoc (Fixed Term)
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Hours Per Week
40
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Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.
Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.
Job Description
NREL's Energy Conversion and Storage Systems Center has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral researcher. The selected candidate will be responsible for performing materials development and electrochemical testing for long-duration energy storage, solid-state battery, and/or lithium-sulfur battery research programs (https://www.nrel.gov/storage/electrochemical-energy-storage.html ).
The selected candidate will fabricate composite electrodes including sulfur cathodes (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/1945-7111/ac4541/meta ), assemble half- and full-cell batteries, and test their electrochemical performance against different types of battery chemistries. The candidate will also utilize post-mortem analysis of the cells and in-situ Raman spectroscopy and other spectroscopic or characterization tools to explore fundamental mechanisms of electrolyte-electrode interactions and their effects on electrochemical performance.
Job duties include, but not limited to:
Slurry casting of li-ion battery electrodes
Fabrication of full- and half-cell coin cells
Electrochemical testing of li-ion batteries using potentiostats, battery cyclers, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Using in-situ cells that enable spectroscopic characterization during electrochemical testing (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/1945-7111/ac1d7a/meta ).
Perform and/or interpret general microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations such as SEM, EDS, XRD, XPS, CT, etc.
Analyze characterization and electrochemical data (https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/batt.202300186 ).
Develop and refine hypotheses by carrying out research plans and interpreting results.
Publish findings in peer reviewed journals and present research at professional conferences.
Interact with large multi-lab consortium, regularly attend/participate/present in group meetings and reviews (https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/silicon-anode-consortium.html ).
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Basic Qualifications
Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
Record of publications/presentations related to NREL projects.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, writing and documentation skills.
Demonstrated teamwork, creativity, innovation, and adaptability.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Raman and/or FTIR/ATR spectroscopy.
- Experience with operando cells for electrochemical spectroscopy.
- Experience using and maintaining atmosphere-controlled gloveboxes.
- Experience fabricating and testing solid state batteries.
- Experience programming electrochemical test equipment.
- Experience processing/analyzing electrochemical data sets.
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Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $73,200 - $120,800
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
* Based on eligibility rules
Drug Free Workplace
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
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EEO Policy
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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