Postdoctoral Associate Mechanical Engineering Department College of Engineering

Boston University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mesostructured Materials and Devices Lab at Boston University, led by Prof. Joerg Werner, invites postdoctoral researchers to join a collaborative team developing advanced battery cell technology.

On-site at BU, the position emphasizes leadership potential and entrepreneurial spirit, with a start in Oct/Nov 2026 and yearly renewals. The role focuses on designing cells, synthesizing materials electrochemically, and evaluating safety and packaging for energy storage devices within a

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field is required.
• Experience in at least two of the listed areas (battery development, sealing, plating, safety, electronics) is required.
• Experience in a collaborative R&D team is highly desirable and essential for this role.
• Excellent communication skills and an interest in entrepreneurship are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop novel battery cell designs and architecture.
• Electrochemical synthesis and deposition of materials.
• Analyze the results of electrochemical experiments and characterization.
• Perform and analyze flammability and safety tests on materials and devices.
• Sealing/coating, contacting, and packaging of sensitive energy storage devices.
• Iterate and improve on custom cell fabrication from materials to assembly methods to cell design.
• Prepare frequent technical reports and present results to the research team and funding entities.

Skills

Battery cell development

Hermetic sealing

Metal plating

Safety testing

Electronic wiring

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Entrepreneurship interest

Education

PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry

Job description

The Mesostructured Materials and Devices Lab at Boston University led by Prof. Joerg Werner is looking for one or more postdoctoral associates to join a team of interdisciplinary researchers developing and establishing an advanced battery cell technology. Successful candidates are entrepreneurial-minded, work well with others in a highly collaborative project, exhibit team leadership potential, and are motivated by the prospect of launching the next generation of energy storage devices. General information about the Werner group at sites.bu.edu/wernerlab/.

The initial appointment is for one year with an expected start date of October or November 2026 and the possibility of renewal on a yearly basis. The position is on site at the Boston University Charles River Campus in Boston MA.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Develop novel battery cell designs and architecture
• Electrochemical synthesis and deposition of materials
• Analyze the results of electrochemical experiments and characterization
• Perform and analyze flammability and safety tests on materials and devices
• Sealing/coating, contacting, and packaging of sensitive energy storage devices
• Iterate and improve on custom cell fabrication, from materials to assembly methods to cell design
• Prepare frequent technical reports, present results to research team and funding entities

Required Skills

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related engineering or physical science field is required.
• A strong experimental research background and abilities are required in at least two of the following areas
  • Battery or electrochemical cell development and testing
  • Hermetic sealing and packaging
  • Metal plating (electroless and galvanic)
  • Safety and flammability of materials, packaging, and/or batteries
  • Electronic contacting and wiring of sensitive devices
• Experience working within a collaborative R&D team is desirable, being comfortable in an interdisciplinary research environment and team is a requirement.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• Interest in entrepreneurship is strongly preferred.

_We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. _