Scientist II

University of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Scientist II position at the University of Wisconsin–Madison supports the Stahl Research Group in catalysis, chemical synthesis, and electrochemistry, leading academic projects and industrial collaborations. The role explores new directions and provides expert lab-method guidance within the group.

Responsibilities include lab work, project/milestone tracking, mentoring, grant writing support, manuscript editing, and presenting results to external audiences. Travel to conferences is possible.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry or related field (required).
• Experience in homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysis.
• Experience in synthetic organic chemistry and/or electrochemistry.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate methods, results, and proposals clearly.
• Ability to mentor students and collaborate with staff.

Responsibilities

• Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials, and disseminates information to appropriate entities
• Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information
• Writes or assists in developing grant applications and proposals to secure research funding
• May supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit as needed
• Identifies research problems and develops complex research methodologies and procedures
• Serves as a unit subject matter expert and liaison to internal and external stakeholders providing advanced level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area
• Monitors program budget and approves unit expenditures
• Collects and analyzes complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures under general supervision

Skills

Organic & inorganic chemistry

Catalysis expertise

Kinetic & mechanistic studies

Electrochemistry

Organizational skills

Ownership & accountability

Communication & collaboration

Education

PhD in Chemistry or related discipline

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Scientist II

Job Summary:

This Scientist will help lead academic research projects and industrial collaborations related to catalysis, chemical synthesis, and/or electrochemistry within the Stahl Research Group as part of the UW-Madison Department of Chemistry. The position will also include initial exploration of new research directions and serving as an expert in laboratory methods to support projects within the group.

Representative laboratory methods could include the following (prior experience in all areas is not required):

• Chemical synthesis, including preparation of organic, organometallic, and inorganic compounds
• Homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalytic reactions, including design, set-up, and performance
• Kinetic and mechanistic studies, including data acquisition, analysis, and fitting
• Air-free techniques, including Schlenk techniques and glovebox use, for synthesis and/or sample/reaction analysis
• High-pressure reactions (i.e., use of Parr reactors), including the safe operation of reactions with O2 at elevated pressure
• Spectroscopic and analytical measurements under various conditions for characterization of molecules and materials. Examples include NMR, UV-vis, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies and LC-MS and GC-MS analysis, in addition to various materials characterization methods.
• Electrochemical techniques, including analytical and preparative methods

Beyond lab work, this individual will:

• Work with the PI to support project management of funded projects
• Work with the lab manager to support maintenance and operation of group equipment
• Mentor graduate students and post-doctoral researchers working on group projects
• Assist in writing and editing manuscripts and grant proposals
• Complete progress reports and prepare presentations for relevant funding agencies and external audiences.

The Scientist will have opportunities to travel to conferences and collaborator sites to support the project and disseminate project outcomes.

This is a Full-Time 100% FTE position.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials, and disseminates information to appropriate entities
• Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information
• Writes or assists in developing grant applications and proposals to secure research funding
• May supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit as needed
• Identifies research problems and develops complex research methodologies and procedures
• Serves as a unit subject matter expert and liaison to internal and external stakeholders providing advanced level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area
• Monitors program budget and approves unit expenditures
• Collects and analyzes complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures under general supervision

Department:

College of Letters & Science, Chemistry

Stahl lab research focuses on catalysis, with an emphasis on selective oxidation reactions of organic molecules relevant to the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industry, and the application of electrochemistry and electrocatalysis for chemical synthesis.

The Stahl lab also has research efforts in applied fields, including biomass and waste plastics deconstruction and valorization.

Additional information about lab research activities is available on the lab website (https://stahl.chem.wisc.edu) and by reviewing recent research publications from the group.

Compensation:

The expected salary range for this position is $75,000 - $100,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Actual pay within this range will depend on experience and qualifications. Only those with extensive relevant experience will be placed around the high end of that range.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong theoretical knowledge of organic and/or inorganic chemistry.
• Research expertise in multiple areas of experimental chemistry, among the following:
• Homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysis
• Synthetic organic chemistry
• Kinetic and mechanistic studies,
• Electrochemistry
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of responsibilities, follow established procedures, and consistently deliver accurate, dependable work
• Ability to build positive working relationships, provide guidance and support to others, and communicate openly and professionally.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly and effectively communicate experimental methods, results, and

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the development and implementation of analytical methods for small molecule characterization
• Experience in the operation of high-pressure reactors (i.e., Parr reactors)
• Experience in analysis and fitting of kinetic data
• Experience and/or interest in learning computational methods, include DFT calculations, Python coding, and machine learning methods
• Ability to troubleshoot and perform routine maintenance of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.

Education:

PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related discipline.

The application deadline is 11:59pm on 9/21/2026.

Contact Information:

Beatriz Lemire, [e-mail]

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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