Lead Materials Synthesis Chemist II - Materials Discovery Research Institute

We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Materials Synthesis Chemist II at UL Research Institutes, based in Skokie, Illinois facilities. The Lead Materials Synthesis Chemist will drive experimental research at the Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) by developing and leading advanced materials synthesis and characterization research efforts. This role will focus on building robust synthesis workflows, mentoring a high-performing team, and collaborating across disciplines to accelerate the discovery and deployment of materials that address global challenges in sustainability, safety, and environmental health.

At UL Research Institutes, 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 the Materials Discovery Research Institute team that conducts the research required to produce that knowledge and put it into practice.

The Materials Discovery Research Institute 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. Our top priorities include 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.

• Lead and develop research programs focused on the discovery, synthesis, and characterization of novel materials for applications in carbon capture, energy storage, environmental remediation, and related sustainability‑driven fields.
• Lead and mentor a high‑performing team of scientists and engineers, providing technical leadership and career development support.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across computational chemistry, data science, and application testing teams to drive interdisciplinary research.
• Initiate and maintain partnerships with academia, government, and industry to define research priorities and enable the translation of materials innovations into real‑world impact.
• Communicate research findings through peer‑reviewed publications, technical reports, patents, and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Contribute to laboratory growth and operational planning, including staffing, budgeting, and equipment procurement.
• Perform other duties as directed.

We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 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
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  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
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  We learn, work, and grow together…