Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the Project

We are looking for a motivated postdoc researchers to join our group. The prospective postdoc will focus on the materials science for critical materials. Please visit UNC-Chapel Hill official website - (https://aps.unc.edu/)

For more information about the position and how to apply:

Overview:

We are looking for a motivated postdoc who can start anytime. The prospective postdoc will work on the materials science for critical materials.

Background:

Our research group in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences (APS) at UNC-Chapel Hill is focused on interdisciplinary materials science, with an emphasis on the discovery, synthesis, characterization, and application of advanced materials for energy, electronics, and sustainability. We are initiating/expanding a new project on critical materials, addressing challenges in supply-chain resilience, sustainable extraction and processing, recycling, substitution, and the development of high-performance alternatives to materials such as rare-earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and other elements vital to clean energy technologies, semiconductors, and defense applications. The project is well-funded, collaborative, and offers opportunities to work with national labs, industry partners, and/or international collaborators.

Job Description:

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join this effort. The postdoc will conduct independent and collaborative research on critical materials, with flexibility to align with the candidate’s expertise and interests (experimental, computational, or combined). Possible research directions include (but are not limited to):

• Synthesis and processing of critical material compounds or substitutes
• Advanced structural, chemical, and functional characterization
• Materials modeling and prediction (DFT, machine learning, etc.)
• Recycling, recovery, or circular economy approaches
• Performance testing in devices (batteries, magnets, catalysts, etc.)

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments or simulations
• Analyze data and prepare manuscripts for publication in high-impact journals
• Present results at conferences and collaborate with team members
• Contribute to grant proposals and mentoring of graduate/undergraduate students