Postdoc: Membrane Chemist for Sustainable Batteries

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Family leave

Professional development

Job summary

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Materials Sciences Division seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar - Membrane Chemist to advance recyclable membranes for aqueous flow batteries. You will design, synthesize, and evaluate polymer membranes, study ion transport, and develop regeneration methods for end-of-life materials.

You will publish findings, collaborate with PNNL, and contribute to DOE reporting, with a focus on sustainable materials and energy storage research.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. awarded within the last three years or to be completed before start date.
• Hands-on experience in synthetic polymer chemistry and purification.
• Experience fabricating polymer films or membranes and measuring transport properties.
• First-author papers demonstrating a research track record.
• Ability to work independently and in multi-institution teams; strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize microporous polymer membranes with varied monomer identity and topology.
• Fabricate membranes with controlled thickness; measure ionic conductivity, permeability, and swelling.
• Develop membrane deconstruction chemistry and recover monomers; assess retention of properties after cycles.
• Characterize membranes across lifecycle using NMR, LC-MS, FTIR, thermal and mechanical analysis.
• Coordinate with collaborators on flow-cell validation; contribute to data analysis and reporting.
• Write manuscripts and invention disclosures; present at reviews and meetings.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Membrane fabrication

NMR

FTIR

LC-MS

Impedance spectroscopy

Publications

Education

Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, or related field

Tools

NMR spectroscopy

FTIR spectroscopy

LC-MS

X-ray scattering

Porosimetry

Thermal analysis

Job description

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Materials Sciences Division seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar - Membrane Chemist to advance recyclable membranes for aqueous flow batteries. You will design, synthesize, and evaluate polymer membranes, study ion transport, and develop regeneration methods for end-of-life materials.

You will publish findings, collaborate with PNNL, and contribute to DOE reporting, with a focus on sustainable materials and energy storage research.