Postdoctoral Researcher – Battery and Critical Minerals/Materials R&D Research

Posting Title
Postdoctoral Researcher – Battery and Critical Minerals/Materials R&D Research

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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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Job Description

NLR's Battery Materials Group develops materials for battery applications and other critical mineral and material technologies. The Group has an opening for one or more postdoctoral researchers.

This position will support hands-on materials science research and development with a focus on lab work to support lithium-ion-battery materials development projects and critical mineral/material separation and electrochemical processing projects. The technologies of interest include conventional lithium-ion materials and next-generation battery technologies as well as electrochemical deposition for critical materials processing.

The successful candidate will perform some of the following tasks: design experiments and experimental matrices; synthesize, process, and/or coat battery materials; perform in-situ and ex-situ materials characterization; fabricate electrodes; fabricate electrochemical cells; perform electrochemical testing; separate critical materials; deposit critical materials electrochemically; analyze electrochemical and materials characterization data from experiments; and work with project task leads to write papers and reports.

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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

• PhD in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or physics
• Experience fabricating and testing electrochemical cells
• Experience conducting materials characterization for critical minerals/materials or battery materials
• Experience synthesizing, depositing, separating, or processing critical minerals/materials or battery materials
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Demonstrated ability to process, plot, and interpret electrochemical data
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills
• Demonstrated teamwork, creativity, innovation, and adaptability
• Ability to attend and present research to the scientific community

Preferred Qualifications

• Python, MATLAB, Igor Pro, or other coding expertise for developing data analysis and processing tools
  Experience synthesizing or processing battery electrode materials
• Experience fabricating battery coin or pouch cells
• Experience conducting battery-specific materials characterization
• Experience fabricating battery electrodes
• Experience with electrochemical deposition
• Experience with critical mineral/materials processing
• Experience synthesizing and testing solid-state electrolytes
• Experience with water-in-salt, high-concentration, or hydrate-melt electrolytes
• Experience with advanced lithium-ion battery materials such as silicon, or advanced cathodes such as LMFP, low Co materials like LMR, DRX, etc.
• Experience with next generation battery materials development, such as Na-ion, Sulfur, or other conversion cathodes
• Experience with designing or testing batteries for non-traditional applications (high power, ultra-safe, fast charge, low temp, etc.)
• Experience working on outside-of-the-box cell designs such as in-situ cells or advanced components like light-weight current collectors and advanced separators to improve safety or performance
• Expertise in analytical electrochemistry and identifying degradation mechanisms

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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: $76,600 - $126,400

NLR takes into consideration a candidates 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 employees 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. NLR 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

Badging Requirement
NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR 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 NLR, 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 NLR 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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