Postdoctoral Researcher – Battery and Critical Minerals/Materials R&D Research

NLR; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 77,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Pension Benefits (403(b))

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Job summary

NLR seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher in Golden, CO to advance battery materials and critical minerals research. The role emphasizes hands-on lab work in lithium‑ion and next‑gen battery technologies, including electrochemical deposition and materials processing.

You will design experiments, fabricate cells, perform characterizations, and contribute to papers and reports. Ideal candidates hold a PhD in engineering, chemistry, or physics, with hands-on electrochemical experience, independent work

Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or physics.
• Must have experience fabricating and testing electrochemical cells.
• Experience in materials characterization for battery materials or critical minerals.
• Ability to work independently and interpret electrochemical data.
• Strong writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design experiments and experimental matrices for battery materials research.
• Synthesize, process, or coat battery materials and fabricate electrodes.
• Perform in-situ and ex-situ materials characterization and electrochemical testing.
• Analyze data and collaborate with task leads to publish papers.

Education

PhD in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or physics

Independent work

Data analysis

Interpersonal communication

Writing skills

Job description

Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher – Battery and Critical Minerals/Materials R&D Research.

Location CO - Golden.

Position Type Postdoc (Fixed Term).

Hours Per Week 40.

Working at NLR.

Job Description

NLR's Battery Materials Group develops materials for battery applications and other critical mineral and material technologies.

The Group has an opening for one or more postdoctoral researchers.

This position will support hands‑on materials science research and development with a focus on lab work to support lithium‑ion‑battery materials development projects and critical mineral/material separation and electrochemical processing projects.

The technologies of interest include conventional lithium‑ion materials and next‑generation battery technologies as well as electrochemical deposition for critical materials processing.

The successful candidate will perform some of the following tasks:

• design experiments and experimental matrices


• synthesize, process, and/or coat battery materials


• perform in‑situ and ex‑situ materials characterization


• fabricate electrodes


• fabricate electrochemical cells


• perform electrochemical testing


• separate critical materials


• deposit critical materials electrochemically


• analyze electrochemical and materials characterization data from experiments


• and work with project task leads to write papers and reports

Basic Qualifications

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.


• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or physics


• Experience fabricating and testing electrochemical cells


• Experience conducting materials characterization for critical minerals/materials or battery materials


• Experience synthesizing, depositing, separating, or processing critical minerals/materials or battery materials


• Demonstrated ability to work independently


• Demonstrated ability to process, plot, and interpret electrochemical data


• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills


• Demonstrated teamwork, creativity, innovation, and adaptability


• Ability to attend and present research to the scientific community

Preferred Qualifications

• Python, MATLAB, Igor Pro, or other coding expertise for developing data analysis and processing tools


• Experience synthesizing or processing battery electrode materials


• Experience fabricating battery coin or pouch cells


• Experience conducting battery‑specific materials characterization


• Experience fabricating battery electrodes


• Experience with electrochemical deposition


• Experience with critical mineral/materials processing


• Experience synthesizing and testing solid‑state electrolytes


• Experience with water‑in‑salt, high‑concentration, or hydrate‑melt electrolytes


• Experience with advanced lithium‑ion battery materials such as silicon, or advanced cathodes such as LMFP, low Co materials like LMR, DRX, etc.


• Experience with next generation battery materials development, such as Na‑ion, Sulfur, or other conversion cathodes


• Experience with designing or testing batteries for non‑traditional applications (high power, ultra‑safe, fast charge, low temp, etc.)


• Experience working on outside‑of‑the‑box cell designs such as in‑situ cells or advanced components like light‑weight current collectors and advanced separators to improve safety or performance


• Expertise in analytical electrochemistry and identifying degradation mechanisms

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short‑term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays.

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions.

All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug‑free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre‑employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre‑employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre‑employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

E-Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

Company Overview

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy.

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions.

All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on‑site, off‑site, or via telephone or videoconference. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NLR by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Drug Free Workplace NLR is committed to maintaining a drug‑free workplace in accordance with federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre‑employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre‑employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre‑employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.