Unleash Your Potential With Us

As a next-generation public research institution, we are an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to shape the future and solve the world’s most challenging problems. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you become an integral part of our mission to become a university for the future. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with uniquely talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses and regional locations. That means greater challenges to tackle, more meaningful opportunities to grow, and rewarding experiences that go beyond a paycheck.

The Opportunity

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC, https://energyresearch.ucf.edu/ ) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is seeking applicants for a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure earning assistant research professor or associate research professor to carry out research in acidic/alkaline membrane electrolyzers and fuel cells. 

FSEC and its hydrogen laboratories are located in Cocoa, Florida. FSEC is an energy research center of UCF, whose main campus is located in Orlando. Since 1975, FSEC has conducted fundamental and systems-level research in solar energy, hydrogen production, fuel cells, energy storage, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient buildings. FSEC is seeking a qualified research faculty member to work on a range of fundamental and applied research projects in acidic polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers (PEMFC&Es), alkaline electrolyte membrane fuel cells (AEMFC&Es), and flow batteries.

Research opportunities include electro-catalysis (PGM- and non-PGM-based), ion exchange membranes, catalyst layer architectures, fuel cell and electrolyzer durability, fuel cell and electrolyzer water management, operation and testing of electrolyzers/fuel cells and/or redox-flow batteries, performance impacts from impurities, synthesis/characterization of novel fuel cell and electrolyzer materials including nanoscale catalysts, supports and polymer membranes, and non-aqueous flow battery materials and system development.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Ph.D., terminal degree, or foreign degree equivalent from an accredited institution in an appropriate area (e.g., chemical/mechanical engineering, material science, electrochemistry, or similar), and minimum of two (2) years postdoctoral research experience (or equivalent) at the time of appointment are required. 

An excellent publication record in the field of required expertise and very good command of spoken and written English, along with good communication skills are required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated strong background in several of the following areas are preferred:

• Electrochemistry,
• Polymer/organic synthesis/characterization,
• Electrocatalysis/electrocatalysts,
  Electrode design, fabrication and characterization,
• Electrochemical Device fabrication,
• Electrochemical testing (fuel cell, electrolyzer, redox flow cell). 

A history of team-based inter/multi-disciplinary research is considered an asset.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/ . In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, a research statement, a teaching statement, and a list with contact information for three (3) professional references.

PLEASE have all four (4) documents listed above ready when applying so they can be submitted at that time. The curriculum vitae should be submitted on the “My Experience” page. The other three application documents (cover letter, research statement, a teaching statement, and contact information for three professional references) should be submitted where it says, “Upload any additional application requirements listed in the job posting.” Please be sure to submit all four required application documents. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

NOTE: Upon completion of your application, you will see a confirmation screen and be asked to answer some questions regarding the type of work you will perform at UCF. Please do not close out of the application before you answer all of these questions.

Questions regarding this search can be directed to Dr. James Fenton, jfenton@fsec.ucf.edu

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

This is a full-time, renewable 12-month, non-tenure earning position. This position is funded by contracts and grants and is intended to renew every 12-months, contingent upon available funding.

Location: Cocoa, FL (FSEC) and Orlando, FL (Main Campus

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Are Benefits Important to You?

Working at UCF has its perks!  In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:

• Benefit packages including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, healthcare flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off, including annual and sick leave and paid holidays.
• Retirement savings options.
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando area attractions.
• Education assistance.
• Flexible work environment.

And more…For more benefits information, go to ‘Prospective Employees’ on the UCF Human Resources website (https://hr.ucf.edu/ )

Who Are We?

Founded in 1963 to fuel the region’s talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our students and society. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger , and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university. UCF is one of 14 universities nationwide designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Research 1 university. With 13 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 220-degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete, online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s., certificates, and more.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of higher education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to employment in research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty positions (including employed visiting positions), graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral scholar positions, and undergraduate positions.

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Type of Appointment

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at  http://www.oie.ucf.edu/documents/PresidentsStatement.pdf.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.