Postdoc - automated screening of electrolyte additives for aqueous batteries

Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH; Geesthacht; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State-of-the-art labs

International network

Conference funding

Flexible work options

Childcare facilities

Health management program

Job summary

Hereon in Geesthacht, Germany, seeks a postdoctoral researcher to advance automated high-throughput screening of electrolyte additives for aqueous batteries. The project combines robotic electrolyte preparation, automated electrochemical testing, and machine-learning–assisted analysis to boost performance and long-term stability.

The successful candidate will design and optimize workflows, screen a broad range of additives, analyze large datasets, and contribute to ML-based models.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials science, Electrochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Energy Engineering or related field.
• Strong background in electrochemistry and aqueous battery technologies.
• Hands-on laboratory experience and keen interest in experimental research.
• Experience with electrochemical measurements and data analysis.
• Interest in automated experimentation and data-driven materials research.
• Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of EIS, cyclic voltammetry, hydrogen evolution, and electrode degradation.
• Very good English language skills (CEFR B2/C1).

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize automated high-throughput workflows for preparation and electrochemical screening of aqueous electrolyte formulations.
• Systematically screen electrolyte additives and generate datasets linking composition to performance.
• Perform electrochemical characterization using galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
• Analyze large datasets and contribute to ML and QSAR models.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences; write project reports.
• Collaborate with researchers, data scientists, and industrial partners on electrolyte synthesis, battery development, modelling, and scale-up.

Skills

Electrochemistry

Aqueous batteries

Lab experimentation

Data analysis

Team collaboration

EIS / CV

English proficiency

Education

PhD in Materials Science / Electrochemistry / Chemical Engineering / Energy Engineering

Tools

Robotics

Automated experimentation

Job description

Postdoc - automated high-throughput screening of electrolyte adduces for aqueous batteries

Beginn der Ausschreibung 30.10.2026

Ende der Ausschreibung 26.11.2026

The postdoctoral candidate will work within an international research project focused on improving the performance and long-term stability of aqueous batteries through the development of advanced electrolyte additives.
The central objective of the project is to establish an integrated high-throughput workflow combining robotic electrolyte preparation, automated electrochemical testing, and machine-learning-assisted analysis.

• Develop and optimize automated high-throughput workflows for the preparation and electrochemical screening of aqueous electrolyte formulations.
• Systematically screen a broad range of electrolyte additives and generate high-quality datasets linking electrolyte composition to battery performance.
• Perform electrochemical characterization using techniques such as galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
• Analyze large experimental datasets and contribute to the development and validation of machine-learning and quantitative structure-property relationship models.
• Publish your results in leading peer-reviewed journals and present them at international conferences, write project reports.
• Collaborate closely with researchers, data scientists, and industrial partners working on electrolyte synthesis, battery development, modelling, and scale-up.

Recruitment requirement

• A PhD in the subject areas of Materials science, Electrochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Energy Engineering, or similar.

Required knowledge and personal skills

• Strong background in electrochemistry and aqueous battery technologies.
• Hands-on laboratory experience and interest in experimental research.
• Experience with electrochemical measurements and data analysis.
• Interest in automated experimentation and data-driven materials research.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary research team.
• Knowledge of techniques such as EIS, cyclic voltammetry, hydrogen evolution, and electrode degradation.
• Very good English language skills (at least B2/C1 level according to CEFR).

Desired knowledge and personal skills

• Experience with aqueous batteries, metal-anode batteries, or electrolyte development.
• Experience with materials characterization techniques, such as microscopy, X-ray methods.
• Experience with automated experimentation, robotics, data science, or machine learning is advantageous.

Our offer

• Access to state-of-the-art (robotic) labs, unique scientific and technical infrastructure
• Access to a large international research and industrial network.
• Funding for conferences, summer schools and courses needed or research stays
• An exciting job in a research center with around 1,000 employees from more than 60 nations
• International Welcome Office with guest accommodation
• 6 weeks holiday per year; company holidays between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Social benefits according to the collective agreement of the public service and remuneration up to EG 13 (according toEntgO Bund)
• Very good work-life balance; options for mobile and flexible work
• A green campus on the Elbe River, well-connected with Hamburg (public transport), subsidy for the Deutschlandticket if certain conditions are met (job ticket), charging facilities for electric vehicles
• Family-friendly company policy with childcare facilities, e.g. nursery/kindergarten close to the company
• Operational Health Management, e.g. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.