Post-Doctoral Researcher - Electrochemical Safety Research Institute

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI), within UL Research Institutes (ULRI), based in our Houston, TX facilities. The Post-Doctoral Researcher will perform independent research in preparation for a career as a scientific professional, contributing to and advancing the energy storage and conversion safety research and development activities of the Electrochemical Safety Research Institute. The Post-Doctoral Researcher will conduct literature reviews, design and perform experiments, gather and analyze data, develop preliminary findings, and prepare reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, and presentations associated with the materials-level battery-related research projects and ensure all processes and information are accurate and technically sound.

This two-year Post-Doctoral Researcher position is focused on addressing concerns related to the advancements in the safety of batteries and energy storage systems, starting at the materials-level and low-capacity cells-level pertaining to novel chemistries.

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 Electrochemical Safety research team who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Electrochemical Safety Research Institute:

The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI) investigates the safety and performance limits of energy technologies. Through our discovery-driven research, we innovate, test, model, and lay the foundation for electrochemical energy storage that is both safe and reliable. Our scientific research helps everyone in the energy storage and battery value chain — from cell and battery manufacturers, suppliers, and original equipment manufacturers to recyclers, shippers, and consumers — understand and thereby help minimize the various safety risks associated with batteries in various applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.

Collaborating with a wide variety of partners to help meet the world’s energy safety needs, we disseminate information by convening a diverse group of stakeholders at events such as global battery summits and webinars to find data-driven solutions to new and emerging energy storage risks.

What you’ll learn and achieve:

As the Post-Doctoral Researcher, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Conduct independent primary research to characterize the safety of novel battery and energy storage materials and low-capacity cells, following institutional and federal regulations.

• Apply extensive knowledge of scientific principles, engineering technology, and systems engineering concepts to execute complex research tasks with a focus on materials characterization (inorganic, organic, polymers, composites, solvents, etc.).

• Exercise a high degree of judgment in formulating, evaluating, and correlating broad engineering research concepts, guiding the analysis of unique problems, and developing new and improved techniques and methods.

• Develop and execute independent research aimed at enhancing ULRI’s thought leadership and advancing strategic objectives.

• Assist with experiments, data collection, and evaluations; supports researchers on collaborative projects by analyzing laboratory data and test results to identify trends, develop solutions, and draw data-driven conclusions.

• Plan, design, and complete initial and follow-up procedures using design of experiments (DOE) methodology to test hypotheses and validate results.

• Perform research to a high standard, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and regulatory requirements while handling and assembling/disassembling various materials and independently operating specialized instrumentation.

• Collaborate with ULRI colleagues, universities, and external research partners; actively engages in cross-training and knowledge transfer based on individual subject matter expertise.

• Contribute to and participates in webinars, conference presentations, writing and publishing peer-revi