Skip to main content

Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Employer
NC State University
Location
Raleigh, NC
View more categoriesView less categories
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution
Apply on website
Send job

Job Details

Posting Number:

PG191777PD

Position Number:

00112341

Position Type:

Post Doc

FLSA:

Exempt

Department ID:

140201 - Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Department:

140201 - Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Job City & State:

Raleigh, North Carolina

Essential Job Duties:

  • The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will lead the experimental research program on liquid electrolytes for wide-temperature lithium-ion batteries.
  • The objective is a single liquid electrolyte that supports reliable Li-ion full-cell operation across a wide temperature range, where conventional carbonate electrolytes freeze in the cold and degrade at elevated temperatures.
  • The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will design and formulate multi-component electrolytes (salt selection, binary and ternary solvent blending, fluorinated diluents, and additive engineering); build and test coin and pouch full cells under standardized protocols in environmental chambers spanning the full temperature window; characterize Li+ solvation structure and electrode/electrolyte interphases; carry out flammability and thermal-safety screening; and deconvolute electrolyte from electrode contributions to cell performance.
  • The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will also be responsible for day-to-day execution of the NC State scope of work, for supervising the graduate and undergraduate students assigned to the project, and for preparing the deliverables, data packages, and technical reports owed to the prime contractor.


Duties and Responsibilities include:
  • Design, formulate, and optimize liquid electrolytes for wide-temperature lithium-ion cells, including salt selection, binary/ternary solvent blending, fluorinated diluents, and additive engineering.
  • Assemble and test coin and pouch full cells (NMC||graphite and related chemistries) in an argon glovebox, including electrode slurry preparation, coating, calendering, and cell crimping.
  • Execute standardized electrochemical evaluation across the full target temperature range using environmental and cryogenic chambers: galvanostatic cycling, rate capability, impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and three-electrode/reference measurements.
  • Characterize electrolyte physicochemical properties and Li+ solvation structure (ionic conductivity, viscosity, freezing and phase behavior, Raman, FTIR, NMR) and electrode-electrolyte interphases (XPS, SEM/EDS, and related tools).
  • Perform flammability and thermal-safety screening of candidate formulations under approved safety protocols.
  • Analyze, curate, and archive experimental data; maintain complete and auditable electronic laboratory records.
  • Prepare monthly and quarterly technical progress reports, milestone data packages, and deliverables for the prime contractor and the Army technical point of contact; participate in sponsor teleconferences and program reviews.
  • Write and submit peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference abstracts and present results at national meetings.
  • Train, supervise, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students working on the project.
  • Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation (gloveboxes, battery cyclers, environmental chambers, potentiostats. and coordinate calibration and service.
  • Comply with all EHS requirements for handling flammable organic solvents, lithium salts, lithium metal, compressed gases, dry ice and cryogens, and for battery testing.

Other Work/Responsibilities:

  • Assist with laboratory management: chemical inventory, hazardous waste streams, ordering of supplies, and onboarding of new group members.
  • Serve as a laboratory safety contact for the battery testing space and help maintain standard operating procedures.
  • Contribute preliminary data and text to future proposals to DoD, DOE, NSF, and industry.
  • Support intellectual-property activities, including invention disclosures arising from the project.
  • Assist with outreach, laboratory tours, and hosting of sponsor and collaborator visits.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits:

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Propositionand learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Department Required Skills:

  • Electrolyte preparation and handling of moisture- and air-sensitive materials (glovebox, Schlenk/air-free technique).
  • Lithium-ion cell fabrication: electrode slurry casting, calendering, cell assembly and crimping.
  • Electrochemical testing and interpretation: galvanostatic cycling, rate capability, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry; operation of battery cyclers and potentiostats.
  • Quantitative data analysis and scientific plotting (Python, MATLAB, Origin, or equivalent).
  • Scientific writing and presentation; ability to draft manuscripts and sponsor progress reports independently.
  • Ability to work safely and independently with flammable organic solvents and lithium-containing materials, and to work effectively with students and external sponsors.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education:

  • 2+ years of research experience in liquid electrolyte design for lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries beyond the doctoral degree.
  • Experience with low-temperature and/or high-temperature battery testing and with environmental, cryogenic, or thermal chambers.
  • Experience probing Li+ solvation structure (Raman, FTIR, NMR) and interphase chemistry (XPS, SEM/EDS, cryo-EM, TOF-SIMS).
  • Experience with multi-layer pouch cell fabrication and scale-up.
  • Experience with flammability, thermal-runaway, or other battery safety testing.
  • Prior experience on projects, including milestone-driven reporting.
  • Experience mentoring graduate or undergraduate researchers.

Required License or Certification:

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required?:

No

Commercial Driver's License Required?:

No

Anticipated Hiring Range:

$61,000

Job Open Date:

09/17/2026

Quick Link:

https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/235119

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

NC State studentsOur 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

NC State bldg in darkOur Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

NC State building oldWith Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.

Apply on website
Send job
Apply on website

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert