Research Assistant Professor

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

The College of Engineering and Applied Science seeks a Research Assistant Professor for a 12-month, fixed-term appointment supporting a broad portfolio of externally funded electrochemical energy-storage research. The successful candidate will provide scientific and technical leadership for federally and industry-sponsored projects, coordinate research activities in the Principal Investigator’s laboratory, manage collaborations with external partners, and mentor graduate students and junior researchers. Research areas include lithium-ion and beyond-lithium-ion batteries, including lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries, battery recycling, and related electrochemical energy-storage technologies. The position will conduct and help develop research programs, seek independent research funding as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator, and support the timely completion of project milestones, technical reports, publications, patents, and other deliverables. The appointee will coordinate industry-sponsored projects and DOE-sponsored research, including collaborations with national laboratories, and contribute to research proposals and contracts. Research activities comprise the majority of the appointment.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a closely related engineering or scientific discipline.
At least five years of postdoctoral and/or research associate experience after completing the Ph.D.
Substantial research experience in electrochemical engineering, electrochemistry, and electrochemical energy-storage technologies.
A strong record of high-impact, peer-reviewed publications demonstrating sustained contributions to electrochemical energy-storage research.
Google Scholar h-index of 40 or higher.
Demonstrated research accomplishments across multiple areas of advanced battery technology.
Substantial research experience in Li-ion batteries, beyond-Li-ion batteries including Li-S batteries, solid-state batteries, and Li-ion battery recycling and/or recycling-related battery materials and processes.
Demonstrated experience managing and conducting industry-sponsored or industry-collaborative research, including industrial partner interactions, project planning and execution, milestone and deliverable management, and technical report preparation.
U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status, subject to confirmation of consistency with applicable sponsor, contractual, export-control, and institutional requirements.
Ability to provide a resume and cover letter as part of the application.

Nice To Haves

Track record as a Principal Investigator and/or Co-Principal Investigator lead on externally or internally funded research grants and/or contracts, including proposal development, funded-project execution, and meeting sponsor milestones and deliverables.
Record of translating fundamental electrochemical research into practical battery technologies and engineering solutions.
Experience managing multiple concurrent federally and industry-sponsored research projects.
U.S. and/or international patents arising from battery, electrochemical, or energy-storage research.
Experience mentoring graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and other junior research personnel.
Experience providing hands-on guidance in experimental design, electrochemical characterization, data analysis and interpretation, troubleshooting, technical writing, and peer-reviewed publication preparation.
Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary research teams, national laboratories, industrial partners, and academic collaborators.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including preparing research proposals, sponsor reports, presentations, manuscripts, and other technical documents.

Responsibilities

Conduct a high-quality, productive, and impactful research program in electrochemical energy storage.
Seek and maintain independent research funding as a Principal Investigator and/or Co-Principal Investigator.
Provide leadership for research projects and help develop and sustain research programs within the institution.
Mentor graduate students, serve on graduate committees as appropriate, and co-advise graduate students.
Participate as appropriate in research-related, compliance, and research advisory committees.
Manage and coordinate industry-sponsored research projects, including planning, execution, sponsor communication, milestones, deliverables, and technical reporting.
Coordinate research activities involving Li-ion, Na-ion, Li-S, solid-state batteries, battery recycling, and other emerging electrochemical energy-storage technologies.
Provide scientific and technical leadership for ongoing and future DOE-sponsored projects and collaborations with national laboratories, including Brookhaven National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Provide hands-on mentoring to graduate students and junior researchers in research planning, experimental design and execution, data analysis, troubleshooting, scientific writing, and publication preparation.
Assist in developing new externally funded research opportunities, including federal proposals and industry-sponsored contracts.
Coordinate research activities among students, postdoctoral researchers, collaborators, and external partners to meet project objectives on time.
Disseminate research results through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, technical reports, patents, and other appropriate channels.
Develop and publish peer-reviewed research, present at conferences, participate as an editor for publications, and/or serve on committees.
Supervise day-to-day operational activities of research program staff.
Formulate and direct scientific and technical research processes, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with financial, ethical, and administrative requirements.