Post-Baccalaureate Appointee: Materials Recycling

UChicago Argonne, LLC; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 59,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory seeks a Post-Baccalaureate Appointee in the Applied Materials Division to advance materials recycling research, focusing on battery recycling and metals recovery. The role involves hands-on work with lab and pilot-scale equipment, data collection, and documentation, with opportunities to contribute to hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes.

The position requires a recent bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, or materials science, and a proven

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree earned within the past 0–2 years in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or closely related field.
• Experience in lithium-ion battery systems, battery materials, and/or recycling technologies.
• Familiarity with materials separation equipment and techniques.
• Aptitude for hands-on laboratory or technical work, including use of hand tools and assembly/modification of equipment.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative research team.
• Strong oral and written communication skills at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory- and pilot-scale experiments for material separation and recycling.
• Support pilot-plant design, installation, commissioning, and operation.
• Collect and analyze data; document experimental results; contribute to research on direct recycling and related processes.

Skills

Battery systems

Battery materials

Recycling tech

Separation equipment

Hands-on lab work

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Laboratory safety

Core values

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Argonne National Laboratory is seeking a Post-Baccalaureate Appointee: Materials Recycling candidate in The Applied Materials Division (AMD) to conduct applied research to develop innovative technologies that improve resource and energy efficiency, reduce dependence on imported energy, and strengthen national security. The Bioprocessing and Separations Group is seeking a Post-Baccalaureate Appointee to support research and development activities in materials recycling and recovery. The Post-Baccalaureate Appointee will join a multidisciplinary team conducting research on battery recycling, with potential opportunities to support other metals recovery and separation projects. The appointee will assist with the development, testing, and evaluation of material separation and recycling processes. Primary responsibilities may include laboratory- and pilot-scale experimental work involving a broad range of separation technologies; support for pilot-plant design, installation, commissioning, and operation; data collection and analysis; and documentation of experimental results. The appointee may also contribute to research on direct recycling, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling processes, and cathode-material synthesis. Because this work involves chemical processing and mechanical systems, strong hands‑on technical skills and comfort working with laboratory and pilot-scale equipment are highly desirable. The appointee will work both independently and collaboratively under the guidance of senior researchers and technical staff.

Position Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree earned within the past 0–2 years in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field.
• Experience in lithium-ion battery systems, battery materials, and/or recycling technologies.
• Familiarity with materials separation equipment and techniques.
• Demonstrated aptitude for hands‑on laboratory or technical work, including the use of hand tools and the assembly or modification of equipment.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative research team.
• Skilled oral and written communication skills at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to follow laboratory, chemical, and equipment safety procedures.
• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of lithium-ion battery materials, cell components, and battery performance characteristics.
• Familiarity with metallurgical separation technologies.
• Experience with battery recycling, including direct recycling, hydrometallurgical, or pyrometallurgical processes.
• Experience with laboratory or pilot-scale equipment installation, start‑up, troubleshooting, or debugging.
• Exposure to process development, process design, or pilot‑plant operations.
• Experience with cathode‑material synthesis or characterization.

Job Family and Work Details

• Job Family Temporary Job Profile Postbaccalaureate Appointee Worker Type Long-Term (Fixed Term) Time Type Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $58,656.00-$92,273.00.

Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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