Requisition Id 11939 

Overview: 

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation. We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance science and technology in the areas of electrochemical energy storage including battery electrode processing & electrolyte development among other battery R&D duties.  Selection will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, technical skills, and education. The chosen candidate is expected to develop and execute research projects on battery electrode processing and electrolyte development for low-cost, high-energy density, and fast charging Li-ion and solid-state batteries.  Candidates should have demonstrated record of technical accomplishments in 1) battery electrode processing; 2) electrolyte development; and 3) cell performance evaluation and post-test characterization. Prior experience with non-aqueous electrolyte and/or polymer electrolyte is highly desired. These research areas are aligned with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Vehicle Technologies and other DOE programs.

This Postdoc position is in the Electrification and Energy Infrastructure Division, and research will primarily be conducted in the Department of Energy (DOE) Battery Manufacturing R&D Facility (BMF) at ORNL’s Grid Research, Integration & Deployment Facility (GRID). The successful candidate will collaborate with staff across ORNL and will be expected to publish in peer-review journals, communicate at conferences and project review meetings, and interface with scientists at other national labs, industry, and universities.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Understand relations of materials properties, processing, and properties for lithium-ion battery electrodes. Carry out work on the formulation chemistry and science of anode and cathode dispersions for next-generation lithium-ion and solid-state batteries.
• Nonaqueous electrolyte formulation, polymer electrolyte synthesis and roll-to-roll processing for batteries with high-energy and high-power density.
• Develop techniques and strategies for cell design, performance test and post-test analysis.
• Publish peer-reviewed journal papers on transformational electrode processing and electrolyte development technologies.
• Network and develop collaboration with other groups and divisions internally at ORNL and with other national labs, industry, and utilities.
• Ensure safe, collegial, and collaborative workplace.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field completed within the last 5 years.
• A record of excellence in battery research and development as evidenced through peer-reviewed journal articles and/or issued patents.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov .

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.