Post-Doctoral Fellow

JOB TITLE

Post-Doctoral Fellow

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Mechanical & Materials Engineering - NFR JM

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Electrochemical Energy Laboratory at Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks a Post-Doctoral Fellow to conduct research in lithium-ion battery recycling, cathode material regeneration, sustainable battery materials processing, and electrochemical energy storage. The position will support research projects focused on closed-loop lithium-ion battery recycling, cathode upcycling, solvent-free electrode manufacturing, materials characterization, and electrochemical performance evaluation.

The Post-Doctoral Fellow will work under the supervision of Prof. Yan Wang and collaborate with graduate students, research staff, industry partners, and external collaborators. The position is expected to contribute to experimental design, materials synthesis and processing, battery cell fabrication and testing, data analysis, manuscript preparation, proposal development, and laboratory mentoring.

The Electrochemical Energy Laboratory focuses on electrochemistry-based technologies, including battery materials, battery manufacturing, design, and recycling, as well as recycling and industrial sustainability. Its current research topics include closed-loop lithium-ion battery recycling, cathode materials for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, battery life extension, solvent-free electrode manufacturing, and broader sustainability-related recycling technologies.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on lithium-ion battery recycling, cathode material regeneration, cathode upcycling, and sustainable battery materials processing.
• Design, perform, and optimize experiments involving spent battery material processing, selective metal recovery, cathode precursor synthesis, cathode resynthesis, high-temperature treatment, and electrochemical validation.
• Synthesize and characterize battery materials using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, surface analysis, thermal analysis, and electrochemical testing.
• Fabricate and evaluate battery cells, including coin cells and, when applicable, pouch cells, to assess capacity, rate capability, cycling stability, impedance behavior, and overall electrochemical performance.
• Analyze experimental data, maintain accurate research records, prepare technical reports, and present research findings to internal and external collaborators.
• Prepare and submit peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, presentations, invention disclosures, and research progress reports.
• Assist with proposal development, project planning, milestone tracking, and communication with research sponsors and collaborators.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in experimental methods, data analysis, laboratory safety, research planning, and scientific communication.
• Support laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance, chemical inventory, safety compliance, standard operating procedures, and coordination with other lab members.

Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Research experience in lithium-ion batteries, battery recycling, cathode materials, electrochemical energy storage, or sustainable materials processing.
• Experience with materials synthesis, powder processing, thermal treatment, or hydrometallurgical/electrochemical processing.
• Experience with battery material characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, ICP-OES, or related methods.
• Experience with electrochemical testing, including coin cell fabrication, galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, or related techniques.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with lithium-ion battery cathode recycling, direct recycling, cathode upcycling, NMC, LFP, LMFP, sodium-ion cathodes, or solid-state battery materials.
• Experience with scale-up of materials synthesis, process optimization, battery manufacturing, or pouch cell fabrication.
• Experience preparing peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, research proposals, and presentations.
• Experience mentoring graduate or undergraduate students.

Compensation:

Salary: $55,000 depending on experience

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.