Post-Baccalaureate Appointee: Materials Recycling
About The Position
Argonne National Laboratory’s Applied Materials Division (AMD) is hiring a Post-Baccalaureate Appointee to support research and development in materials recycling and recovery within the Bioprocessing and Separations Group. The appointee will join a multidisciplinary team conducting battery-recycling research, with possible opportunities to support other metals-recovery and separation projects. The work aims to develop technologies that improve resource and energy efficiency, reduce dependence on imported energy, and strengthen national security. The position involves helping develop, test, and evaluate material-separation and recycling processes. Work may include laboratory- and pilot-scale experiments using a range of separation technologies, support for pilot-plant design and operation, data collection and analysis, and documentation of experimental results. The appointee may also contribute to direct recycling, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, and cathode-material synthesis. The role requires hands-on work with chemical processing and mechanical systems, performed independently and collaboratively under the guidance of senior researchers and technical staff. The position is on site at Argonne’s Lemont, Illinois campus five days per week.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree earned within the past 0–2 years in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field.
- Experience in lithium-ion battery systems, battery materials, and/or recycling technologies.
- Familiarity with materials-separation equipment and techniques.
- Demonstrated aptitude for hands-on laboratory or technical work, including use of hand tools and equipment assembly or modification.
- Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a collaborative research team.
- Skilled oral and written communication at all levels of the organization.
- Ability to follow laboratory, chemical, and equipment safety procedures.
- Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of lithium-ion battery materials, cell components, and battery performance characteristics.
- Familiarity with metallurgical separation technologies.
- Experience with battery recycling, including direct recycling, hydrometallurgical, or pyrometallurgical processes.
- Experience with laboratory or pilot-scale equipment installation, start-up, troubleshooting, or debugging.
- Exposure to process development, process design, or pilot-plant operations.
- Experience with cathode-material synthesis or characterization.
Responsibilities
- Support research and development activities in materials recycling and recovery, primarily focused on battery recycling.
- Assist with the development, testing, and evaluation of material-separation and recycling processes.
- Conduct laboratory- and pilot-scale experimental work involving separation technologies.
- Support pilot-plant design, installation, commissioning, and operation.
- Collect and analyze data and document experimental results.
- Potentially contribute to research on direct recycling, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling processes, cathode-material synthesis, and other metals-recovery or separation projects.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
