Research Scientist II - Electrochemical Safety Research Institute

UL Research Institutes • Houston, TX

2d • $81,456 - $112,003 • Onsite

About The Position

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Scientist II at UL Research Institutes (ULRI) Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI), based in our Houston, TX facilities. The Research Scientist II critically formulates important problems, conducts literature reviews, designs and performs experiments, gathers data, develops findings, and prepares technical papers and presentations that support the research and development activities of Electrochemical Safety’s within UL Research Institutes. The Research Scientist II works closely with Electrochemical Safety’s leaders and researchers, as well as external project collaborators, to carry out tests and analyses associated with battery and hybrid energy storage systems pertaining to novel materials and safety science to ensure all processes are accurate and technically sound.

At UL Research Institutes, we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Electrochemical Safety team who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI) investigates the safety and performance limits of energy technologies. Through our discovery-driven research, we innovate, test, model, and lay the foundation for electrochemical energy storage that is both safe and reliable. Our scientific research helps everyone in the energy storage and battery value chain — from cell and battery manufacturers, suppliers, and original equipment manufacturers to recyclers, shippers, and consumers — understand and thereby help minimize the various safety risks associated with batteries in various applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.

Collaborating with a wide variety of partners to help meet the world’s energy safety needs, we disseminate information by convening a diverse group of stakeholders at events such as global battery summits and webinars to find data-driven solutions to new and emerging energy storage risks.

Requirements

• Demonstrated hands on battery (lithium-ion technology and beyond) research laboratory capabilities (including glovebox and dryroom technical operations) and knowledge (energy storage and conversion technologies, materials, and processes).
• Experience with thin-film flexible cells, low‑power, solid‑state, or micro‑scale energy storage systems
• Materials synthesis (solgel, solvent, powder processing, ball-milling, CVD, etc.), characterization (PXRD, FTIR, GC-MS, ARC, SEM-EDX, TGA-DSC, rheology, moisture analysis, optical imaging etc.), and analysis experience.
• Electrochemical expertise: electrode (mix, coat, calendar, and slit/punch) and cell fabrication (Swagelok, coin, and pouch cell formats for two- and three-electrode setups), testing protocols (cycling, rate, conductivity, EIS / DCIR, CV, etc.) on different cyclers (Arbin, Gamry, Biologic, Neware, etc.), and advanced data analysis skills; cell teardown (DPA) knowhow is a plus.
• Ability to maintain science- and engineering-based academic and applied knowledge and skills.
• Excellent communication, management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to be a self-motivated, independent researcher but actively collaborates with peers to complete a project from start to finish by efficiently meeting deliverables, timeline, and budget.
• Strong technical report writing skills and the ability to serve as lead author on reports and papers.
• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, materials science or engineering, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering (or related engineering or scientific discipline) plus 6 or more years of directly related work experience post degree, or Master’s degree in chemistry, materials science or engineering, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering (or related engineering or scientific discipline) plus 2 or more years of directly related work experience post degree, or Ph.D. in chemistry, materials science or engineering, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering (or related engineering or scientific discipline).

Nice To Haves

• Profile matching and Rietveld refinement expertise, as well as familiarity with large-scale instrument beamtime (synchrotron x-rays, neutron) are a plus.
• Related modeling experience and programming knowledge (VBA, python, etc.) are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Works across electrochemistry, materials, thermal science, and systems engineering, using first-principles thinking and rigorous experimentation to uncover mechanisms that others have overlooked, and turn those insights into practical technologies and safety solutions.
• Identifies and actively pursues the understanding of fundamental knowledge required to enhance ULRI’s thought leadership and support the strategy of ULRI.
• Uses design of experiment (DOE) to plan, execute, and complete initial and follow-up procedures, as required, to test and validate results.
• Applies intensive and diverse knowledge of engineering technology and systems engineering concepts to the specific research tasks. Exercises fundamentals-based judgment in formulating, evaluating, and correlating broad engineering research concepts and guiding the analysis of unique problems and developing new and improved techniques and methods.
• Analyzes data and laboratory test results to determine trends, form data-driven conclusions, and develop solutions.
• Handles and works with various materials (inorganic, organic, polymers, composites, solvents, etc.) for synthesis and (dis)assembly for characterization with independent operation of instrumentation setup and data collection and provides insights through data analyses.
• Dissemination of results through peer-reviewed journal publications; presentations at conferences, speaking engagements (podcast, webinars, teaching, panels, etc.), and other events representation.
• Engages and collaborates with team members and university partners.
• Stays abreast of the latest literature in the field by reading journals, scientific publications, industry news, safety events, and attending academic conferences.
• Assists with grant and proposal writing for funding or large-scale instrument facility use.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Benefits

• bonus compensation
• comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
• generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay
• additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment
• flexible working arrangements
• paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed