Postdoctoral Scholar – Polymer Dielectrics & Energy Storage

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • Berkeley, CA

2d • $69,084 - $82,836 • Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Postdoctoral Scholar – Polymer Dielectrics & Energy Storage within the Material Sciences division. This position will conduct research on polymer composite dielectrics for advanced energy storage applications. This position is part of a multidisciplinary program focused on the design, synthesis, processing, and characterization of organic–inorganic hybrid materials capable of reliable operation under demanding electrical and thermal conditions.
The Postdoctoral Researcher will lead hands-on experimental efforts, including polymer composite synthesis, thin-film fabrication, dielectric device preparation, and electrical characterization. The work emphasizes understanding structure–processing–property relationships in polymer-based dielectric materials and translating this understanding into improved capacitor performance. This role is well suited for candidates with strong laboratory skills in polymer materials, composites, and electrical characterization.

Requirements

• Ph.D. (completed within the last two years) in Polymer Science, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong hands-on experience in polymer synthesis and/or polymer composite fabrication.
• Demonstrated expertise in thin-film processing and experimental materials characterization.
• Experience working independently in a laboratory setting with strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with dielectric materials, capacitor fabrication, or electrical measurements.
• Familiarity with organic–inorganic hybrid materials or nanocomposites.
• Experience using electron microscopy or scanning probe techniques (SEM, TEM, AFM).
• Interest in contributing experimental insights to broader materials discovery efforts.

Responsibilities

• Process and fabricate polymer dielectric thin-films and capacitor test structures.
• Perform dielectric, electrical, and thermal characterization, including capacitance, dielectric loss, breakdown strength, and temperature-dependent measurements.
• Design and execute experiments for the synthesis of polymer composites and organic–inorganic hybrid dielectric materials.
• Investigate structure–property–processing relationships relevant to high-field and high-temperature dielectric performance to inform the digital discovery of new polymers.
• Characterize materials, interfaces, and film morphology using microscopy and materials characterization tools (e.g., SEM, AFM, TEM, thermal analysis).
• Maintain rigorous experimental records and contribute high-quality datasets for internal collaboration.
• Communicate research results through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and internal reports.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of materials scientists, chemists, and engineers within a shared user-facility environment.
• Safe handling of solvents, nanofillers, high-voltage testing, and instrument SOPs; participation in EHS trainings and near-miss reporting culture.
• Reproducibility & data stewardship: Version-controlled protocols, metadata standards for dielectric testing, and contribution to shared repositories (aligns with “high-quality datasets” and organizational effectiveness).
• Mentoring / community: Light mentoring of students/visitors; contributing to inclusive lab culture and knowledge transfer.

What This Job Offers

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