Postdoctoral Research Associate - Chemistry

Category:: Professional & Support Staff
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Department:: Chemistry
Locations:: Vestal, NY
Posted:: Oct 14, 2026
Closes:: Oct 28, 2026 - 11:59 PM EDT
Type:: Full-time
Salary Type:: Annually
Position ID:: 205731
About The Research Foundation for SUNY at Binghamton :

Binghamton University is a premier public R1 research institution in the State University of New York (SUNY) system that unites more than 130 broadly interdisciplinary educational programs with some of the most vibrant research in the nation. Our unique character - shaped by our mission, outstanding academics, facilities, and community life - promotes extraordinary student success, research, and service; Binghamton University is where our students, faculty and staff thrive

Working at Binghamton University is about more than having a great job - it is about having the opportunity to flourish in an exciting, engaging environment. Our faculty and staff appreciate Binghamton's collegial and inclusive culture and its commitment to excellence, education, innovation and civic engagement. Our diverse campus community contributes to our success. Embedded within the University, The Research Foundation (RF) exists to serve SUNY and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as an engine of New York State's innovation economy. We are the largest comprehensive university-connected research foundation in the country. The RF is mission focused and serves Binghamton University by providing essential administrative services that enable faculty to focus their efforts on the education of students and the performance of life-changing research. As a private not-for-profit corporation, we support nearly $1 billion in SUNY research activity annually, providing sponsored programs administration and commercialization support services to SUNY faculty performing research in numerous disciplines.

The RF offers a comprehensive benefits package that is a valuable part of our total compensation. Included in the benefits package are comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, dependent care and healthcare spending accounts, employer retirement contributions at 7% of earnings, retiree health benefits and more! The RF promotes employee work/life balance through generous paid leave offerings and wellness resources for employees and their families. Furthermore, our 10 Perks of Working at the RF provides an at-a-glance view of our top benefits that make us a great place to work. Employees receive support throughout their career with access to professional development opportunities across campus, college savings plans, access to public student loan forgiveness programs, a tuition waiver program, and much more!

Job Description:

This Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Materials Chemistry within the Department of Chemistry at Binghamton University (State University of New York at Binghamton) is supported by a third-year National Science Foundation (NSF) award, which represents the final year of the project. The position focuses on developing strategies to enhance the stability and performance of electrochemical nanocatalysts for fuel-cell applications and sustainable energy conversion.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in synthesizing and manipulating metallic nanocrystals with precisely controlled morphologies, as well as a comprehensive understanding of electrochemical reactions. Experience in electrocatalytic evaluation and the structural, compositional, and morphological characterization of nanocatalysts is essential. The successful candidate will conduct research involving materials synthesis, characterization, electrochemical evaluation, and fuel-cell performance assessment at Binghamton University.

A major responsibility of this position is to synthesize shape-controlled Pt-based alloy nanocrystals and evaluate their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic performance using both three-electrode electrochemical measurements and proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) single-cell testing. These complementary approaches provide fundamental electrochemical insights and practical assessments of catalyst performance under fuel-cell operating conditions.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Mentoring graduate students within the research group
• Conducting advanced materials synthesis, three-electrode electrochemical measurements, and compositional and morphological analyses
• Managing and analyzing research data
• Preparing research reports, presentations, and academic manuscripts.

Requirements:

• Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field and demonstrate expertise in materials chemistry, nanomaterials synthesis, and electrochemistry.
• Substantial prior hands-on experience in PEMFC operation is essential for this position, including membrane electrode assembly (MEA) preparation, fuel-cell assembly, activation, testing, troubleshooting, and performance evaluation.
• PEMFC testing is a critical component of the third and final year of this NSF project and is specifically required to evaluate the fuel-cell performance of catalysts developed during the preceding stages of the project. Unlike conventional three-electrode measurements, PEMFC performance reflects the integrated behavior of the catalyst within a complex MEA, involving catalyst utilization, ionomer-catalyst interactions, electrode architecture, gas and water transport, membrane properties, and cell operating conditions. Given the limited timeframe remaining in the final project year, the research schedule does not allow for an extended period of training in fuel-cell operation. Candidates must therefore possess the relevant prior experience and be capable of independently conducting PEMFC experiments to ensure the timely completion of the project's final-year objectives.
• The ideal candidate will have substantial research experience in shape-controlled nanocrystal synthesis and electrocatalysis, along with demonstrated proficiency in PEMFC testing and operation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a research team are essential.
• Preference will be given to candidates with additional experience in nanocrystal structure analysis and solid-state characterization techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
• Immediate availability is required to support the time-sensitive research objectives of the final year of the NSF-funded project.

Additional Information:

Salary: $58,000 annually.

Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Research Foundation Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy-related conditions, reproductive health decisions, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics/genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, military status or service, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state or local law.

The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

The Research Foundation for SUNY is a private, not for profit corporation and is a separate employer from SUNY and the State of New York and offers separate compensation and benefit plans.

Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus.

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter/Letter of Interest describing the applicant's training, research interests, and career goals, and which addresses the specific reasons for your interest in this opportunity
• Names and contact information (address, email, phone) for three work and/or academic references who can provide recommendations

You may add additional files/documents after uploading your resume.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
The anticipated start date is flexible and will be determined based on the selected candidate's availability.

After filling out the contact information, you will be directed to the upload page.

Returning Applicants - Login to your The Research Foundation for SUNY at Binghamton Careers Account to check your completed application.

Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

URL: www.binghamton.edu/chemistry/