Postdoctoral Scholar – Membrane Chemist
About The Position
The Materials Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar – Membrane Chemist to advance next-generation recyclable membranes for aqueous flow batteries. The researcher will work on a DOE-funded project with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, designing and synthesizing polymer membranes, investigating their ion transport and stability, and developing methods to recover and regenerate membrane materials at the end of their useful lives. The role combines sustainable materials, electrochemistry, and energy storage research, with opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and collaborative national laboratory research. The postdoctoral scholar will characterize membranes at multiple lifecycle stages and evaluate material recovery and reuse. Work includes polymer synthesis and membrane fabrication, transport and stability testing, membrane deconstruction and monomer recovery, and testing regenerated membranes over multiple cycles. The researcher will conduct cell measurements at LBNL as needed and coordinate full flow-cell validation with PNNL collaborators. The role also includes analyzing and communicating findings through manuscripts, invention disclosures, presentations, and DOE reports. This is a full-time, two-year postdoctoral appointment, with possible renewal depending on satisfactory performance, continued funding, and operational needs. Candidates must have less than three years of paid postdoctoral experience and be eligible to work in the United States at the time of hire; visa sponsorship is unavailable. Work will be performed primarily onsite at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. The position is subject to a background check, and access to the site requires a REAL ID or other acceptable identification.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field, awarded within the last three years or to be completed before the start date.
- Hands-on experience in synthetic polymer chemistry, including monomer synthesis and purification, step-growth polymerization, and structural characterization such as NMR, FTIR, and thermal analysis.
- Experience fabricating polymer films or membranes and measuring transport properties, such as impedance-based conductivity, permeability or crossover, and swelling.
- Demonstrated ability to carry a research project from design through publication, evidenced by first-author papers.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-institution team.
- Clear written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work safely in a chemistry laboratory, including handling solvents and reactive reagents in fume hoods and wearing required PPE.
- Less than three years of paid postdoctoral experience.
- Eligibility to work in the U.S. at the time of hire; visa sponsorship is not available.
Nice To Haves
- Mentor graduate students and junior researchers working on membrane and polymer recycling efforts.
- Contribute to group laboratory safety and shared instrument upkeep, and use Molecular Foundry and Advanced Light Source user capabilities.
- Experience with flow batteries or other electrochemical cell assembly and testing.
- Background in chemically recyclable polymers, depolymerization, or monomer recovery.
- Experience with ion-exchange membranes or polymers of intrinsic microporosity.
- Familiarity with LC-MS, X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), or gas sorption for polymer and membrane characterization.
Responsibilities
- Design and synthesize microporous polymer membranes with varied monomer identity, charge density, stoichiometry, and network topology to tune free volume, ion transport, and stability.
- Fabricate membranes with controlled thickness and swelling, then measure ionic conductivity, area-specific resistance, redox-active-species permeability, water uptake, and mechanical integrity in relevant flow-battery electrolytes.
- Develop membrane deconstruction chemistry, quantify monomer recovery yield and purity, and manufacture membranes from recovered monomers; evaluate property retention over multiple recovery cycles.
- Characterize pristine, cycled, depolymerized, and regenerated membranes using NMR, LC-MS, FTIR, thermal and mechanical analysis, and scattering or porosimetry; identify chemical features associated with recovery outcomes.
- Conduct symmetric-cell and flow-cell measurements at LBNL as needed.
- Coordinate with PNNL collaborators on full flow-cell validation, including membrane exchange, test planning, and shared data analysis.
- Analyze and interpret results; write manuscripts and invention disclosures; present at program reviews and scientific meetings; and contribute to quarterly and annual DOE reporting.
- Work safely in the chemistry laboratory, including handling solvents and reactive reagents in fume hoods and wearing required PPE.
- Travel occasionally to PNNL and scientific meetings.
Benefits
- Comprehensive 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.
- Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association opportunities for networking, social events, professional development, and scientific exchange.
- Collaborative and inclusive culture supporting research career growth and belonging.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
