The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Materials Group in Argonne National Laboratory’s Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral Appointee to participate in a project that operates within a large DOE consortium of nine U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories. The project is dedicated to the accelerated discovery of catalytic materials for low-temperature PEM water electrolyzers, utilizing high-throughput synthesis and characterization techniques.

As a Postdoctoral Appointee, you will play a pivotal role in this exciting endeavor. Your responsibilities will encompass:

Catalysts Synthesis: Utilize your expertise in materials synthesis to develop novel catalysts guided by machine learning algorithms

Catalyst Performance Evaluation: Utilize aqueous electrochemical combinatorial techniques to evaluate the performance of synthesized catalysts, identifying promising candidates for further development

Device-Level Performance Assessment: Integrate promising catalysts into low-temperature electrolyzers, utilizing single-cell testing platforms to evaluate their device-level performance

The position also entails extensive ex‐situ and operando characterization of low temperature electrolyzer materials and electrodes using synchrotron X-ray techniques at Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source (APS). In particular X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray scattering, and nano-computed tomography (nano-CT) will be employed to understand the nature of the active OER catalytic sites and the reaction mechanism

Position Requirements

This level of knowledge is typically achieved through formal education in Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering at the Ph.D. degree level with 0-5 years of experience or equivalent in practical laboratory experience in the areas described in the job description

Extensive knowledge of physical electrochemistry and oxygen evolution electrocatalysis

Extensive knowledge of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer electrocatalyst and electrode characterization

Extensive knowledge of solid-state materials synthesis and use of structure construction software such as Materials Studio, Crystalmaker, Mercury, VESTA, etc.

Knowledge of inorganic and nanomaterial synthesis and crystal structure analysis using XRD Rietveld analysis

Knowledge of aqueous electrochemical techniques

Experience in X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray scattering (SAXS & WAXS), and X-ray nano-CT characterization of materials is beneficial

Experience in impedance spectroscopy is beneficial

Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work as part of a collaborative multi-institutional team are required

Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork

Job Family

Postdoctoral Family

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.  

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis.  Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.  Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.