Postdoc - automated screening of electrolyte additives for aqueous batteries

Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State-of-the-art labs

International network

Conference funding

Flexible work options

Job summary

Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Geesthacht to advance automated high-throughput screening of electrolyte additives for aqueous batteries. The project aims to establish an integrated workflow with robotic preparation, automated electrochemical testing, and machine-learning assisted analysis.

The position is full-time (39 h/week), fixed-term for 18 months, starting in February 2027.

Qualifications

• PhD in materials science or related field with focus on electrochemistry.
• Experience with lab automation or automated experimentation is desirable.
• Strong data analysis and familiarity with ML concepts helpful.

Responsibilities

• Develop automated high-throughput workflows for electrolyte screening.
• Perform electrochemical measurements and data analysis.
• Collaborate with researchers and industrial partners on project goals.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Contribute to machine-learning models for battery research.
• Work in an interdisciplinary team with data scientists and engineers.

Skills

Electrochemistry

Aqueous batteries

Data analysis

Independent work

Team collaboration

EIS

Cyclic voltammetry

Education

PhD in Materials science / Electrochemistry / Chemical Engineering

Job description

Organisation/Company Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Research Field All Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 27 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Germany Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Other Offer Starting Date 30 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Institute of Surface Science

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

30.10.2026

Job description

Postdoc - automated screening of electrolyte additives for aqueous batteries

Job ID: 1078

Location: Geesthacht

Application deadline: 11/26/2026

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.

The work involves extensive experimental laboratory activities, automated testing, electrochemical characterization, data analysis, and close cooperation with industrial project partners. The candidate will contribute to the development of reproducible and data-driven battery research workflows for sustainable, safe, and cost-effective stationary energy-storage technologies.

The position is full-time (39 h/week) and fixed-term for 18 months, starting in February 2027.

Equal opportunity is an important part of our personnel policy. We would therefore strongly encourage qualified women to apply for the position.

Your tasks

• 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.

Your profile

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)
• Corporate Benefits

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.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organisation.