Electrochemical Engineering Postdoctoral Scholar

LBL • $82K — $91K *
Berkeley, CA 94704In-Person
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
3 weeks ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, materials science or related field
  • Hands-on experience with electrochemical devices like PEM and alkaline water electrolyzers and fuel cells
  • Strong background in electrochemistry and materials science
  • Self-motivated and milestones-driven
  • Familiarity with data and image processing
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and in team environments

Responsibilities

  • Develop testing protocols for electrolyzer/fuel cell components
  • Create coating strategies for device fabrication
  • Identify performance and durability limiting factors
  • Publish original research and present findings at conferences
  • Ensure adherence to safety requirements
  • Meet milestones for reporting to DOE and sponsors
  • Collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds

Benefits

  • Full-time, 2-year postdoctoral appointment with renewal potential
  • On-site work at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
  • Opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations
  • Access to cutting-edge research facilities
  • Supportive work environment fostering creativity and innovation
Full Job Description
In this exciting role, you will conduct experimental work on electrochemical devices, including electrolyzers, fuel cells, and other electrochemical systems and their components in The Energy Conversion Group in the Energy Technologies and Systems Division of the Energy Technologies Area. The work will entail device fabrication, testing and associated diagnostics, component characterization and integration, and cell validation. You will collaborate with industrial and research partners to develop and utilize novel characterization and diagnostic methods to identify critical performance and durability barriers and provide and validate strategies to overcome them. In addition to cell level testing and integration, particular emphasis will be on understanding electrochemistry and homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions and component material properties including structure/function relationships across multiple time and length scales.

You will:
  • Develop testing protocols to validate and examine performance and degradation behavior of electrolyzer/fuel cell components (e.g. gas recombination layer, cell design, differential pressure, membranes and catalysts).
  • Develop coating strategies to fabricate electrolyzer/fuel cell components (e.g. catalyst coated substrates)
  • Develop experiments to identify limiting factors in the performance and durability of fuel cells/electrolyzers and their components and propose novel mitigation strategies to overcome them.
  • Publish original research in peer-reviewed journals; contribute to scientific publications; present research through talks and posters at conferences, workshops, and multi-investigator meetings.
  • Adhere with the Berkeley Lab and ETA safety requirements.
  • Work on meeting milestones and reporting them to DOE and industrial sponsors
  • Collaborate and work with a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds, and interface with research teams across industry, academia, and national laboratories


Additional Responsibilities as needed:
  • Work on in-situ and operando cell designs including synchrotron-based techniques for electrochemical system materials and cells.
  • Interact with the LBNL fuel cell and electrochemistry community (with extensive experience in batteries, modeling of batteries and fuel cells, electrode material synthesis, spectroscopy, detailed diagnostics, and cell design) to aid in electrochemistry research.


We are looking for:
  • PhD in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, materials science or closely related field.
  • Hands-on experience with electrochemical devices such as PEM and alkaline water electrolyzers, fuel cells (low-and intermediate-temperatures) or related devices.
  • Strong background in electrochemistry and materials science
  • Self-motived and milestones driven
  • Familiarity with data and image processing
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written as well as technical writing.
  • Ability to learn rapidly and integrate new fields to demonstrate creative problem-solving skills
  • Ability and willingness to work in a team environment and collaborate with researchers from various backgrounds
  • Ability to work as an independent researcher with a high level of scientific judgment and initiative.
  • Knowledge of constitutive relations and continuum theories


Desired skills/knowledge:
  • Demonstrated ability to take initiative for tackling cross-disciplinary research problems from initiation to meaningful conclusion
  • Experience with electrochemistry and transport phenomena
  • AI/ML experience for experimental data and metadata management
  • Familiarity with catalyst synthesis and characterization
  • Good data etiquette and management skills


For consideration, please apply with the following application materials:
  • Cover Letter - Describe your interest in this position and the relevance of your background.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume.


Internally posted until May 25, 2026.

The position will be exclusively available to current Berkeley Lab employees and those in layoff status with preferential rehire rights from Berkeley Lab until the date listed above. Current Berkeley Lab employees interested in a lateral transfer or promotional opportunity should apply online to be considered.

Additional information:
  • Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by June 21, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.
  • Appointment type: This is a full-time 2 years, postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience. Salary for Postdoctoral positions depends on years of experience post-degree.
  • Salary range: The monthly salary range for this position is $6,891 / mo - $7,609.00 / mo and is expected to start at $6,891 / mo or above. Postdoctoral positions are paid on a step schedule per union contract and salaries will be predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates. Each step represents one full year of completed post-Ph.D. postdoctoral and/or related research experience.
  • Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
  • Work modality: This position will be performed on-site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Individuals working a hybrid schedule must reside within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.
  • Union Represented: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.


Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

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