Research Assistant Professor

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee seeks a Research Assistant Professor to lead a research program in electrochemical energy storage, with a track record in securing external funding and producing high-impact publications. The position will supervise staff, coordinate projects with industrial partners, and mentor graduate students and junior researchers.

The role involves developing strategies for Li-ion, solid-state, and Li-S battery technologies, managing externally sponsored projects, and

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering or closely related field.
• At least five years of postdoctoral/research associate experience.
• Strong publication record with a Google Scholar h-index of 40+.
• Demonstrated electrochemical energy storage research across Li-ion and beyond-Li-ion chemistries.

Responsibilities

• Develop and publish research content in peer‑reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Supervise day-to-day operations of research program staff.
• Secure intramural and extramural funding through grants to establish program financial independence.
• Direct research program scientific processes ensuring compliance with financial, ethical, and administrative standards.

Skills

Postdoctoral experience

High-impact publications

Electrochemical energy storage

Grant/funding experience

Industry-sponsored research

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or closely related field

Job description

Research Assistant Professor

Milwaukee, WI

JR10016450

Current Employees

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Position Title

Research Assistant Professor

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile

Research Assistant Professor

Job Duties

Key Job Responsibilities

• Develops and publishes research content in peer-reviewedpublications, presents materials at conferences, participates as aneditor for publications, and/or participates in committees
• Supervises the day-to-day operational activities of researchprogram staff
• Secures intramural and extramural funding through grants toestablish financial independence for research program(s)
• Formulates and directs research program scientific andtechnical processes and policies and procedures to ensurecompliance with established financial, ethical, and administrativerequirements and standards

Department

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Compensation

$75,000 (Final salary offer will be determinedbased on qualifications and experience).

Job Summary/Unit Information

The market for batteries is ever-growing. For lithium-ionbatteries, it has surpassed $30 billion and is expected to doubleor perhaps triple by 2025. It also demands constant improvement inbattery efficiency and storage capabilities. Answering this chargeis a priority for UWM researchers, whose work in energy storage ishelping power a strong industry cluster in Wisconsin and beyond.UWM's expertise got a boost in 2015 when Deyang Qu became theJohnson Controls Endowed Professor in Energy Storage Research. Theendowment from Johnson Controls, a giant in the battery industry,funded a unique dry lab at UWM, the largest such facility at anyNorth American university. Housed in the College of Engineering& Applied Science, the lab is a miniature factory, providinglimited manufacturing of promising new batteries.

The unit seeks to fill a 12-month, fixed terminal academic staffAssistant Research Professor position to work on this research. Thesuccessful candidate will support a broad portfolio of externallyfunded research in electrochemical energy storage. The positionwill provide scientific and technical leadership for federally andindustry-sponsored research projects (i.e. US Department of EnergyBattery 500 consortium, industry contracts, UWM DIG and UWRFCatalyst), coordinate research activities in the PrincipalInvestigator's (PI) laboratory, manage collaborative research withexternal partners, and provide continuous mentoring to graduatestudents and junior researchers.

The research program encompasses Li-ion batteries, beyond-Li-ionbattery technologies, including Li-S and solid-state batteries,battery recycling, and related electrochemical energy-storagetechnologies. The successful candidate will be expected tocontribute to the development and execution of current and futureexternally sponsored research programs and to help ensure thetimely completion of research milestones, technical reports,publications, patents, and other project deliverables.

Required Qualifications

• Education: A Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a closely relatedengineering or scientific discipline.
• Research Experience: At least five years of postdoctoral and/orresearch associate experience following completion of the Ph.D.,with substantial research experience in electrochemicalengineering, electrochemistry, and electrochemical energy-storagetechnologies.
• Scholarly Accomplishments: A strong record of high-impact,peer-reviewed publications demonstrating sustained contributions toelectrochemical energy-storage research. Candidates must have aGoogle Scholar h-index of 40 or higher.
• Battery Research Expertise: Demonstrated researchaccomplishments across multiple areas of advanced batterytechnology. Substantial research experience in all of the followingareas is required:
• Li-ion batteries
• Beyond-Li-ion batteries, including Li-S batteries
• Solid-state batteries
• Li-ion battery recycling and/or recycling-related batterymaterials and processes.
• Industry-Sponsored Research: Demonstrated experience managingand conducting industry-sponsored or industry-collaborativeresearch projects, including interaction with industrial partners,project planning and execution, management of milestones anddeliverables, and preparation of technical reports.

Preferred Qualifications

• A demonstrated track record of serving as a PrincipalInvestigator (PI) and/or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) lead onexternally and/or internally funded research grants and/orcontracts, with experience in developing research proposals,executing funded projects, and meeting sponsor milestones anddeliverables.
• A strong record of translating fundamental electrochemicalresearch into practical battery technologies and engineeringsolutions.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent federally andindustry-sponsored research projects.
• Awarded U.S. and/or international patents arising from battery,electrochemical, or energy-storage research.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring graduate students,postdoctoral researchers, and other junior research personnel.
• Experience providing hands-on guidance in experimental design,electrochemical characterization, data analysis and interpretation,troubleshooting, technical writing, and preparation ofpeer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with multidisciplinaryresearch teams, national laboratories, industrial partners, andacademic collaborators.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, includingexperience preparing research proposals, sponsor reports,presentations, manuscripts, and other technical documents.

Major Responsibilities

• Conduct a high-quality, productive, and impactful researchprogram in electrochemical energy storage, with research activitiescomprising the majority of the appointment.
• Seek and maintain independent research funding as a PrincipalInvestigator (PI) and/or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) onresearch proposals and awards, consistent with the AssistantResearch Professor title and the needs of the researchprogram.
• Provide leadership for research projects and help develop andsustain specific research programs within the institution.
• Provide mentoring to graduate students, serve on graduatecommittees as appropriate, and serve as a co-advisor for graduatestudents.
• Participate, as appropriate, in research-related committees,compliance committees, and research advisory committees thatsupport the research mission.
• Manage and coordinate industry-sponsored research projectswithin the PI's research program, including project planning,execution, sponsor communication, milestones, deliverables, andtechnical reporting.
• Coordinate research activities related to Li-ion, Na-ion, Li-S,solid-state batteries, battery recycling, and other emergingelectrochemical energy-storage technologies.
• Provide scientific and technical leadership for ongoing andfuture DOE-sponsored research projects and collaborations withnational laboratories, including Brookhaven National Laboratory(BNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
• Provide continuous, hands-on mentoring to graduate students andjunior researchers, including guidance in research planning,experimental design and execution, data analysis, troubleshooting,scientific writing, and publication preparation.
• Assist with the development of new externally funded researchopportunities, including federal proposals and industry-sponsoredresearch contracts.
• Coordinate research activities among graduate students,postdoctoral researchers, collaborators, and external partners toensure timely achievement of project objectives.
• Disseminate research results through peer-reviewedpublications, conference presentations, technical reports, patents,and other appropriate channels.

Education

A Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a closelyrelated engineering or scientific discipline.

Work Authorization

This position requires U.S. citizenshipor U.S. permanent resident status, subject to confirmation thatthis requirement is consistent with applicable sponsor,contractual, export-control, and institutional requirements.

Contact Information

Please direct all questions regarding thisrecruitment Amy Rehfeldt at [e-mail].

Reasonable Accommodations

Pursuant to university policy,UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individualswith disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment.Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need tomake reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with adisability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applyingbecause of a disability, please contact [e-mail] or 414-229-4463.This job announcement and other material on this site will be madeavailable in alternate formats upon request to an individual with adisability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin's Open Records Law.UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants whorequest confidentiality in writing except as may be required byWisconsin's Open Records law. In certain circumstances, theidentities of "final candidates" and/or the identity of theappointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy

Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes theprevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and yourreferences will be required to answer questions regarding any pastfindings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pendingallegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., CleryReport), which includes statistics about reported crimes andinformation about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, orcall UWM's Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at [phone] for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization

In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of theirstart date will be required to verify identity and eligibility towork in the United States and to complete the required employmenteligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employmentwithout regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability,status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected byapplicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We arecommitted to building a workforce that represents a variety ofbackgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualifiedindividuals to apply.