Group Leader: Materials and Device Evaluation

Argonne National Laboratory; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for a Group Leader to establish scientific vision, strategic direction, and operational leadership for a multidisciplinary research group focused on materials characterization, diagnostics, and autonomous discovery.

The role will advance understanding of structure–property relationships and integrate automation and AI to accelerate materials analysis across energy technologies.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, physics or a closely related field.
• Postdoctoral and/or professional research experience.
• Demonstrated record of high-impact research in materials science.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific, technical, and organizational leadership for a high-performing multidisciplinary research group.
• Define and implement a strategic vision sustaining leadership in energy-storage and electrochemical materials.
• Develop and lead innovative experimental and computational research programs using diverse diagnostic methods.
• Advance systematic approaches for evaluating materials performance and degradation mechanisms.
• Establish and expand capabilities in automated experimentation, data management, ML, and AI-enabled discovery.
• Oversee sponsored research, including project development, budgeting, and reporting.

Education

Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, physics

Job description

The Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for a Group Leader to establish scientific vision, strategic direction, and operational leadership for a multidisciplinary research group focused on materials characterization, diagnostics, and autonomous discovery.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished scientific leader to advance fundamental and applied understanding of the relationships among materials composition, structure, processing, performance, and degradation. The group will build on Argonne's leadership in energy storage and electrochemical science while expanding its impact across the broader energy-sciences landscape, including energy conversion, catalysis, separations, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability.

The successful candidate will lead the development and application of integrated materials and chemistry diagnostic capabilities, including physical, spectroscopic, metallographic, electrochemical, and related characterization methods. A central focus of the group will be systematic, rigorous materials evaluation that enables meaningful comparisons among materials, components, failure mechanisms, and technologies. Research may include characterization of materials and interfaces under controlled and air-free conditions, including positive and negative electrodes, separators, electrolytes, and other environmentally sensitive materials systems.

The Group Leader will also establish a forward-looking research program that integrates automation, data infrastructure, machine learning, and agentic artificial intelligence to accelerate materials analysis, experimental planning, and autonomous discovery. By connecting advanced experimental diagnostics with data-driven approaches, the group will enable faster identification of structure-composition-property relationships and generate transferable scientific insight across a range of energy technologies.

As a scientific leader and principal investigator, the successful candidate will define and execute a high-impact research agenda; develop new programs and sponsor relationships; lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams; and cultivate collaborations across Argonne, the national laboratory system, academia, industry, and government agencies. The Group Leader will work closely with Department, Theme, and Division leadership to grow the group, steward personnel and resources, and ensure alignment with the strategic priorities of the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other sponsors.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide scientific, technical, and organizational leadership for a high-performing multidisciplinary research group
• Define and implement a strategic vision that sustains leadership in energy-storage and electrochemical materials while broadening the group's contributions across the energy sciences
• Develop and lead innovative experimental and computational research programs using physical, spectroscopic, metallographic, electrochemical, and related diagnostic methods
• Advance systematic approaches for evaluating materials performance, degradation mechanisms, and failure modes within and across energy technologies
• Establish and expand capabilities in automated experimentation, high-throughput characterization, data management, machine learning, and AI-enabled materials analysis and discover
• Serve as principal investigator for sponsored research, including project development, proposal preparation, budgeting, project execution, reporting, and delivery of high-quality research outcomes
• Oversee group operations, including personnel, facilities, equipment, budget, safety, and resource planning
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop scientific and technical staff, postdoctoral researchers, students, and visiting researchers
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance research culture that values scientific excellence, professional growth, responsible conduct of research, and diverse perspectives
• Build productive collaborations with colleagues across Argonne, other national laboratories, universities, industrial partners, and government sponsors
• Publish influential research; communicate results through presentations, technical reports, and scientific forums; and represent Argonne nationally and internationally
• Identify emerging research opportunities, maintain awareness of advances in materials characterization and AI-enabled science, and develop initiatives that expand the group's research portfolio
• Ensure that all group activities comply with Argonne and DOE requirements for safety, security, environmental stewardship, responsible use of data, and responsible application of artificial intelligence

Position Requirements

Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, physics, or a closely related field, with postdoctoral and/or professional research experience

Demonstrated record of high-impact research in materi