Postdoctoral Researcher – Battery Materials & Electrochemical Energy Storage

About the role

The Materials Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Helms group, working at the interface of materials chemistry and electrochemical energy storage. The successful candidate will lead efforts spanning battery materials processing, electrode and cell fabrication, and full electrochemical cell assembly and testing, with a focus on characterizing how electrode, electrolyte, and interfacial structures evolve during cycling and aging.

Join a team addressing global challenges and contributing to an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate electrodes and assemble electrochemical cells (coin, pouch, and/or custom cell formats) under controlled (e.g., glovebox/dry room) conditions.
• Synthesize and process battery active materials (e.g., electrode composites, solid-state or liquid electrolytes) using established and novel synthetic/processing routes.
• Conduct electrochemical testing and characterization, including galvanostatic cycling, rate testing, impedance spectroscopy, and related protocols.
• Perform structural and interfacial characterization of pristine and cycled materials using techniques such as X-ray diffraction/scattering, electron microscopy, and spectroscopic methods.
• Systematically organize, preserve, and archive raw and processed characterization data in compliance with LBNL open science and data management policies.
• Plan and execute experiments at synchrotron or other user facilities, including beamtime proposal writing and on-site data collection.
• Analyze and interpret data to correlate processing conditions, structural/interfacial evolution, and cell performance/degradation mechanisms.
• Maintain accurate records of experimental procedures, protocols, and results (electronic lab notebooks, data management practices).
• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and present findings at group meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of chemists, materials scientists, and engineers on shared research goals.
• Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment relevant to materials processing and electrochemical testing.
• Adhere to all laboratory safety protocols, particularly those relevant to air/moisture-sensitive materials and battery hazards.
• Mentor and train graduate students, undergraduate researchers, or visiting scientists on techniques and protocols.
• Assist in drafting sections of grant proposals or progress reports.
• Contribute to outreach activities, seminars, or educational/public engagement events.
• Support general laboratory management tasks (ordering supplies, equipment calibration schedules, inventory tracking).
• Participate in journal clubs or working groups.
• Assist with onboarding of new lab members or maintenance of shared lab documentation/SOPs.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field, completed within the last few years.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience synthesizing and/or processing battery materials (electrodes, electrolytes, or related composites).
• Practical experience assembling and testing electrochemical cells (e.g., coin cells) under inert-atmosphere conditions (glovebox operation).
• Working knowledge of electrochemical characterization techniques (galvanostatic cycling, impedance spectroscopy, rate/cycle life testing).
• Demonstrated experience in operando/in situ electrochemical characterization techniques for tracking phase transitions and solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) evolution.
• Familiarity with glovebox atmosphere management, including routine maintenance of moisture/oxygen sensors, catalyst regeneration, and hazardous waste disposal compliance.
• Experience with at least one structural or interfacial characterization technique (X-ray diffraction/scattering, electron microscopy, or spectroscopy).
• Ability to design and execute independent experiments, analyze data critically, and troubleshoot unexpected results.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including a record of peer-reviewed publication.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in experimental recordkeeping and data management.
• Ability to work safely with air- and moisture-sensitive materials, flammable solvents, and other laboratory hazards typical of battery research.

Desired Skills

• Experience at synchrotron user facilities, including beamtime proposal writing and remote/on-site data collection.
• Familiarity with solid-state cell fabrication and testing.
• Experience with specific battery chemistries relevant to the group's focus (e.g., sodium-ion, solid-state electrolytes, organic electrode materials).
• Programming/data analysis skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for handling large characterization or electrochemical datasets.
• Prior mentoring or supervisory experience with students or junior researchers.
• Experience contributing to grant proposals or technical reports.

Pay

This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes. The salary range is $84,336 - $94,020. Postdoctoral positions are paid on a step schedule per union contract, with each step representing one full year of completed post-Ph.D. postdoctoral experience.

Schedule

This is a full-time 2-year postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds, and ongoing operational needs. Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by August 19, 2026.

Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.