Postdoctoral Appointee – Advanced Electrochemical Separations

Argonne National Laboratory; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 72,879 - 121,465; Full time

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, IL, invites applications for a postdoctoral appointee to develop an electrochemical rotating packed bed reactor platform for energy-efficient separation of elements. You will design prototypes, perform electrodeposition tests in DES media, and study mass transfer under flow while tuning solvent systems for solubility and speciation.

Collaboration with modeling teams will validate designs, optimize operating parameters, and contribute to reports, conference

Qualifications

• PhD in chemical engineering, chemistry, electrochemistry, materials science or related field.
• Knowledge of electrochemistry, chemical engineering and chemical technology.
• Knowledge of electrodeposition techniques incl. potentiostatic/galvanostatic methods, CV, EIS.
• Strong oral and written communication; development of technical reports and presentations.
• Computer-based design and control of experiments; data analysis.
• Ability to collaborate in a multi-institutional research environment.
• Ability to model Argonne's Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Design and fabricate electrochemical reactor prototypes.
• Conduct electrodeposition experiments in deep eutectic solvent media.
• Characterize mass transfer and selectivity under flow conditions.
• Screen and tune designer solvent systems for solubility and speciation.
• Collaborate with modeling colleagues to validate designs and optimize parameters.
• Prepare reports and present results at conferences; publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Skills

Electrochemistry

Electrodeposition

Cyclic voltammetry

Impedance spectroscopy

Mass transfer

3D printing

SolidWorks

Education

PhD in chemical engineering

Tools

3D printing

SolidWorks

Job description

Position Responsibilities

The postdoctoral appointee will be part of a multidisciplinary team developing an innovative electrochemical rotating packed bed reactor platform for energy-efficient separation of elements from complex mixtures. Day-to-day responsibilities will include designing and fabricating electrochemical reactor prototypes, conducting electrodeposition experiments in deep eutectic solvent (DES) media, characterizing mass transfer and selectivity under flow conditions, and screening and tuning DES compositions to optimize solubility, speciation, and electrochemical accessibility for target elements. The candidate will work closely with computational modeling collaborators to validate reactor designs and optimize operating parameters. The candidate will be expected to contribute to report preparation, presentation of results at conferences, and production of peer-reviewed publications.

Position Requirements

• PhD in chemical engineering, chemistry, electrochemistry, materials science, or a related field completed in the past five years or soon-to-be completed.
• Knowledge of general principles of electrochemistry, chemical engineering, and chemical technology is required.
• Knowledge of electrodeposition techniques, including potentiostatic/galvanostatic methods, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is required.
• Skill in oral and written presentation of ideas, discussion of technical results, and in the development of technical reports and presentations is required.
• Knowledge of the use of computers to design and control experiments and to analyze and interpret experimental data is required.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multi-institutional research environment is required.
• Ability to model Argonne's Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Experience with non-aqueous electrolyte systems such as deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, or molten salts is desired.
• Experience formulating, characterizing, and tuning designer solvent systems (e.g., selecting hydrogen bond donor/acceptor combinations to control metal speciation, solubility, and transport properties) is highly desired.
• Experience with physical property measurement of non-aqueous solvents (viscosity, density, conductivity, electrochemical window) is desired.
• Familiarity with design, fabrication, or prototyping including 3D printing, SolidWorks, or similar CAD tools is a plus.
• Exposure to mass transfer principles in rotating or flow-enhanced electrochemical systems is desired.
• Experience with analytical characterization techniques for deposit analysis is desired.

Job Family

Postdoctoral Job Profile Postdoctoral Appointee Worker Type Long-Term (Fixed Term) Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment. To request a reasonable accommodation or for other application support, contact us anytime at [e-mail] or 630-252-2336.