Postdoctoral Researcher – Electrochemical Conversion Device Development

Posting Title Postdoctoral Researcher – Electrochemical Conversion Device Development . Location CO - Golden . Position Type Postdoc (Fixed Term) . Hours Per Week 40 . Working at NLR NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration.

From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

A Postdoctoral Researcher position is available in NLR’s Chemistry and Nanoscience Center to work on the fabrication and testing of electrochemical conversion devices with a focus on chemical production. Efforts will include evaluation of CO2 electrolyzers that perform gas-phase CO2 reduction at the cathode and alkaline water oxidation at the anode to investigate how device and electrode‑level modifications impact thermodynamic and kinetic levers that control product selectivity.

While the primary application is CO2 conversion, the knowledge gleaned from this effort will be translatable to other electrochemical conversion processes like fuel cells, electrolyzers, separation processes, and other chemical production efforts. The candidate will be responsible for the fabrication of electrodes and devices used for chemical conversion, experimental design, in‑situ electrochemical testing, and the interpretation of electrochemical performance. Fundamental knowledge of electrochemistry is required.

This candidate will work with a team of experts to scale up novel concepts from 5 and 25 cm2 to 400 cm2 devices, utilizing technoeconomic assessment to establish key performance metrics.

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

• Experience in synthesis of electrode for electrochemical conversion processes.
• Electrochemical characterization of electrodes and cell properties through diagnostics such as limiting current and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
• An understanding of electrode morphology and impacts of processing and chemical nature on structure, performance and durability of electrodes used in electrochemical conversion devices.
• Experience with performance and durability testing of cells/stack.
• In general, candidates should have a demonstrated track record of success in addressing fundamental and applied science questions and devising solutions to challenging problems.

• Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science & engineering.
• Record of publications/presentations in areas related to polymer electrolytes, electrolyzers, and/or fuel cells.
• Knowledge of supporting physical characterization techniques (microscopy, scattering etc.) is a plus.

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Job Profile:
Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400 NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value,…