Chemist Postdoctoral Scholar

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • Berkeley, CA

8d • $7,029 - $8,152 • Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Chemist Postdoctoral Scholar within the Energy Technologies and Systems division. Conduct research at the intersection of polymer chemistry and inorganic electrode materials for sustainable sodium-ion batteries. Develop polymer binders, conductive coatings, and inorganic electrode materials; fabricate composite electrodes; and evaluate electrochemical performance and material recovery. Establish relationships between polymer chemistry, electrode structure, battery performance, and material recoverability. Candidates should have hands-on experience in polymer and inorganic materials synthesis, processing and characterization, composite electrode fabrication, and electrochemical testing. We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

Requirements

• A recent Ph.D. in polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a closely related field, with demonstrated experience in polymer chemistry, materials chemistry, or both.
• Hands-on experience in polymer synthesis, functionalization, and characterization, including the ability to design polymers with targeted chemical and physical properties.
• Ability to purify chemical and polymeric materials and verify their purity using appropriate analytical techniques.
• Experience in the synthesis and processing of inorganic battery electrode materials, including experience with cathode materials and solid-state ceramic synthesis.
• Experience in fabricating and evaluating composite battery electrodes and battery cells, including electrochemical testing.
• Experience with chemical and materials characterization techniques, such as NMR, FTIR, GPC, DSC/TGA, XRD, SEM, or related methods.
• Knowledge of the relationships among polymer chemistry, electrode composition and structure, interfacial properties, and electrochemical performance.
• Ability to independently design and execute experiments, analyze data, troubleshoot technical challenges, and exercise scientific judgment and initiative.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment and collaborate with researchers from diverse technical backgrounds.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare scientific manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, and research proposals.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with air-sensitive synthesis, Schlenk techniques, or glovebox operation.
• Experience with reversible, stimuli-responsive, debondable, or dynamic polymer systems.
• Experience in the design and synthesis of conductive polymers or polymer coatings for electrochemical energy storage applications.
• Experience with sodium-ion battery electrode materials.
• Experience with electrode recycling, materials recovery, component separation, design-for-recycling, or design-for-circularity approaches.
• Experience with surface functionalization, polymer grafting, or modification of inorganic particles and electrode materials.
• Experience with advanced electron microscopy or specialized techniques, such as synchrotron radiation, for investigating electrode morphology and polymer/inorganic interfaces.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, data-driven methods, or computational tools for analyzing relationships among polymer functionality, electrode properties, electrochemical performance, and material recoverability.
• Experience with molecular modeling, molecular dynamics, density functional theory, or other computational approaches relevant to polymer/material interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize functional polymers for reversible battery binders and conductive coatings.
• Synthesize, process, and characterize inorganic electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries.
• Optimize polymer formulations and electrode fabrication to control composition, structure, and interfaces.
• Develop reversible electrode architectures and material-recovery strategies, including debonding, disassembly, separation, and recovery.
• Perform electrochemical testing and evaluate battery performance.
• Characterize polymers, electrodes, and interfaces using NMR, FTIR, GPC, DSC/TGA, XRD, SEM, and related techniques.
• Analyze data to establish structure–property–performance–recoverability relationships.
• Independently design experiments, troubleshoot challenges, and refine strategies.
• Collaborate with experimental and computational researchers to advance circular battery electrode design.
• Prepare manuscripts, reports, presentations, and proposals; communicate findings to collaborators.
• Follow laboratory safety protocols and maintain a safe, effective research environment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement savings through the UC Defined Contribution Safe Harbor Plan, with additional voluntary UC retirement savings options available
• 24 days of Personal Time Off (PTO) per fiscal year, plus sick leave and paid holidays
• Eight weeks of Postdoctoral Paid Family Leave for qualifying family and parental needs
• Opportunities to connect, network, and grow through the Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association, including social events, professional development, and scientific exchange

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree