Electrochemist Research Scientist II - Materials Discovery Research Institute

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for an Electrochemist, Research Scientist II at UL Research Institutes, based in our Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) Skokie, IL facilities. The Electrochemist, Research Scientist II, will play a pivotal role in accelerating the discovery and development of efficient materials, innovative designs, and robust systems for green hydrogen generation, conversion, and storage technologies. This will be achieved through the implementation of high-throughput methodologies, including automated synthesis techniques, advanced characterization methods, and various evaluation approaches, all supported by high-performance computation (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (MD) capabilities within MDRI.

The Electrochemist will leverage their expertise to significantly advance research and innovation in electrocatalyst synthesis and characterization, electrode preparation and evaluation, as well as cell configuration design and optimization. This research endeavor will encompass several areas, including but not limited to proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis, anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis, fuel cell technologies, flow batteries, CO2 electrolysis, and solid-state batteries.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Materials Discovery Research Institute team who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Materials Discovery Research Institute:

The Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) works to develop and deploy new materials with the potential to address current global safety challenges. Pursuing materials that will help produce transformational safety breakthroughs, MDRI harnesses the power of advanced computing and high-throughput experimental methods to create innovative materials that will produce resilience for a sustainable future and protect individual and societal health.

We focus on today's critical challenges, working to create new and better materials that will support renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Among our top priorities is research into materials capable of carbon capture and energy storage, with an eye toward reducing the adverse impacts of humanity's reliance upon fossil fuel resources and enabling a transition to renewable energy sources.

Above all, our research builds on our commitment to a safer, more sustainable future.

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Electrochemist Research Scientist II, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Employ automated synthesis techniques, advanced characterization equipment, and various evaluation methods to develop novel catalysts with the assistance of HPC, AI, and MD.

• Utilize electrochemical combinatorial techniques to assess the performance of synthesized catalysts, identifying promising candidates for further development.

• Investigate the connections between electrochemical properties and materials science by exploring the kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanisms of electrochemical processes. Generate high-quality datasets that are compatible with AI from synthesis, characterization, and performance testing.

• Scale up promising catalysts from R&D evaluations to development short stacks for integration into functional prototypes, collaborating closely with the engineering team.

• Test the multiple cell short stacks under industrially relevant conditions, conduct failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), and demonstrate real-world feasibility and extended durability.

• Design and conduct experiments aimed at synthesizing, characterizing, and evaluating more efficient and cost-effective key materials for renewable energy technologies, including PEM and AEM water electrolyzers, flow batteries, fuel cells, and solid-state batteries.

• Create and develop electrochemical setups and apparatus for various experiments to analyze the properties and behavior of new materials under different electrochemical conditions.

• Collect and analyze data from experiments using advanced instrumentation and software tools. Interpret results and draw conclusions to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including chemists, physicists, engineers, and other researchers and present research findings at conferences, seminars, and workshops.

• Propose innovative research projects and publish research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you'll experience working at UL Research Institutes:

We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for over 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You'll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what's on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in the synthesis and characterization of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and CO2 reduction reaction.

• Proficient in evaluating electrocatalysts using rotating disk electrode (RDE), rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE), and H-cell methods, as well as conducting tests in full PEM and AEM water electrolyzers, CO2 electrolyzers, flow batteries, and fuel cells.

• Familiar with various inorganic and nanomaterial characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

• Experienced in solid-state materials synthesis and proficient in utilizing structure construction software such as Materials Studio, CrystalMaker, Mercury, and VESTA.

• Strong theoretical and practical understanding of electrochemical principles, techniques, and instrumentation.

• Skilled in designing and conducting experiments, as well as troubleshooting lab equipment.

• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration, presentations, and scientific writing.

• Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively within a team.

• Attention to detail and commitment to safety in laboratory environments.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• PhD in chemical engineering, electrochemical engineering, materials science, or Master's degree in chemical engineering, electrochemical engineering, materials science, or a related field plus 2 or more years of directly related work experience or a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, electrochemical engineering, materials science, or a related field plus 6 or more years of directly related work experience,

• Experience in an academic or industrial lab setting after graduation is preferred.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Our affiliate, UL Solutions, stands alongside us in working for a safer and more sustainable world. UL Solutions conducts testing, verification and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools, for customers around the world.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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