Postdoctoral Appointee – Life Cycle Analysis
About The Position
Argonne National Laboratory is seeking a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in life-cycle analysis, industrial process modeling, and critical minerals and materials assessment. The appointee will join the LCA and Technology Assessment Department within the Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis Division and contribute to research evaluating the energy, environmental, material, and economic implications of mineral extraction, refining, chemical conversion, recycling, and manufacturing processes. Working with Argonne researchers, government agencies, industrial partners, academic collaborators, and other national laboratories, the successful candidate will develop and apply transparent, parameterized models of mineral extraction, concentration, refining, chemical conversion, battery-material production, and recycling; compile life-cycle inventories from scientific literature, technical reports, patents, public industrial information, supplier data, and other sources; translate chemical and industrial processes into material and energy balances, reagent requirements, process yields, transportation requirements, waste streams, and operating assumptions; and implement these data and models in Argonne’s GREET model and related analytical tools. The appointee will evaluate current and emerging production pathways, including lithium production from brines and hard-rock resources, lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production, hydrometallurgical processes, and battery recycling, while applying sensitivity, uncertainty, and scenario analyses to identify key process and supply-chain drivers. The researcher will analyze and manage technical datasets; contribute to model and database updates; prepare technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and conference materials; and provide analytical support for assessments of materials, batteries, vehicles, fuels, electricity, infrastructure, and integrated energy systems. The position offers an opportunity to apply industrial process knowledge and advanced life-cycle analysis methods to high-priority questions involving batteries, minerals, materials, and energy systems.
Requirements
- Recent or soon-to-be-completed Ph.D. (typically completed within the last 0-5 years) in chemical engineering, materials science, industrial engineering, or related fields.
- Knowledge of Python, JavaScript, Microsoft Excel and other computer programming skills.
- Knowledge of process modeling and life cycle analysis.
- Knowledge of production processes for critical materials and minerals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, nickel, platinum, zinc, etc.
- Experience developing, manipulating, and analyzing large data sets.
- Understanding of energy technologies and their supply chains.
- Experience working with Argonne’s R&D GREET model and BatPaC battery cost model.
- Knowledge of Aspen Plus or other chemical engineering models.
- Ability to work well within a team of experts in various areas of expertise.
- Skilled in oral and written communications with peers, colleagues, and collaborators.
- Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
Responsibilities
- Develop and apply transparent, parameterized models of mineral extraction, concentration, refining, chemical conversion, battery-material production, and recycling.
- Compile life-cycle inventories from scientific literature, technical reports, patents, public industrial information, supplier data, and other sources.
- Translate chemical and industrial processes into material and energy balances, reagent requirements, process yields, transportation requirements, waste streams, and operating assumptions.
- Implement data and models in Argonne’s GREET model and related analytical tools.
- Evaluate current and emerging production pathways, including lithium production from brines and hard-rock resources, lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production, hydrometallurgical processes, and battery recycling.
- Apply sensitivity, uncertainty, and scenario analyses to identify key process and supply-chain drivers.
- Analyze and manage technical datasets.
- Contribute to model and database updates.
- Prepare technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and conference materials.
- Provide analytical support for assessments of materials, batteries, vehicles, fuels, electricity, infrastructure, and integrated energy systems.
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
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
