Research Associate

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s () Energy Storage & Distributed Resource Division has an opening for a Sr. Research Associate to join the team.

In this exciting role, you will perform a range of responsibilities and provide related support to research projects led by scientific staff focused on fundamentals of carrier transport and electrochemical reactions covering a wide range of applications including electrolysis, fuel cells, photovoltaics, and opto-electronics.

The Research Associate will work in the Energy Conversion group and collaborate with researchers working within the Energy Sciences and Energy Technologies Areas.

The work will entail device fabrication, testing and associated diagnostics, and analysis of the testing data. In addition to set-up and maintenance the Research Associate will provide guidance to students and postdocs on various analytical instruments including gas / liquid / ion chromatography, X-ray fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

What You Will Do : Research Analysis

Research Analysis

• Perform a wide variety of routine and non-routine research tasks with a focus on issues related to energy conversion devices.
• Build and test devices including proton-exchange and hydroxide-exchange membrane fuel cells, proton exchange membrane, hydroxide-exchange membrane and liquid alkaline water electrolyzers, and CO2 electrolyzers.
• Collect, conduct and evaluate date to make spreadsheets for data calculations to ensure they are properly recorded and categorized
• Help with setting-up and maintaining analytical instrumentation in support of a diverse portfolio of programs
• Provide guidance to students and postdocs in the use of analytical instrumentation and best practices in obtaining high quality data
• Assist scientific staff with literature searches and internet-based research efforts, fully documenting results of such research.
• Assist in development of research materials for publications, reports, presentations, and training. Create tables, charts, viewgraphs, and other material for research reports, publications, and presentations.

Provide full references for all data, graphics, and written materials.

Miscellaneous Research Support

• Perform a wide variety of routine and non-routine miscellaneous research support tasks.
• Assist in developing presentations for conferences, meetings, and workshops, and give presentations at conferences, meetings and workshops.
• Assist scientific staff with preparation of materials for journal articles and other technical publications.

In addition to above, at Level 3 :

• Set-up, maintain, and synthesize analytical instrumentation in support of a diverse portfolio of programs.
• Train students and postdocs in the use of analytical instrumentation and best practices in obtaining high quality data.
• Develop research materials for and contribute to publications, reports, presentations, and training. Create tables, charts, viewgraphs, and other material for research reports, publications, and presentations.

Provide full references for all data, graphics, and written materials.

Provide ideas, suggestions, and guidance to colleagues. Works primarily on one project with some interaction of all members of the project team.

What is Required :

• Bachelor's degree preferred and two to five years’ experience with increasing responsibility or an M.S. degree.
• Hands on experience with energy conversion devices like fuel cells, electrolyzers, photovoltaics or related devices.
• Familiarity with electrochemical techniques and analytical equipment.
• Proficiency with MS Excel, PowerPoint and MS Word for data analysis and presentation.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability and willingness to work in a team environment and collaborate with researchers from various backgrounds.
• Excellent English language skills, both written and verbal.
• Accuracy, attention to detail and good organization skills are essential.
• Assist in preparing technical publications and reports.

In addition to above, at Level 3 :

Master’s degree preferred and three to six years’ experience in independent design of experiments and analysis of data.

Desired Qualifications :

• A degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science or applied physics.
• Knowledge, or willingness and ability to quickly learn new software applications, procedures, and tasks.
• Initiative to ask questions and ability to learn and absorb research materials and procedures strongly preferred.

Notes :

• This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• If hired at a level 2 : The budgeted salary range that the Lab reasonably expects to pay for this position is $77,520.

00-$85,680.00. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, and also aligned with the internal peer group.

If hired at a level 3 : The budgeted salary range that the Lab reasonably expects to pay for this position is $97,629.

60-$107,906.40 Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, and also aligned with the internal peer group.

This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position.

Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.

This position is eligible for a flexible work mode, with onsite or hybrid work being the preferred modes. Hybrid work is a combination of teleworking and performing work on-site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Individuals working a hybrid schedule must reside within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.