Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sustainable Battery Technology

Job title:

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sustainable Battery Technology

Company

University College London

Job description

About us The Chemistry Department at University College London is the oldest in England, and today is one of the best in the UK, being ranked 3rd in the UK for its world-leading research in REF2021. We are located in Bloomsbury, at the heart of London, and offer an exciting and vibrant environment in which to study in one of the UK’s top universities. The Department of Chemistry at UCL is committed to supporting excellence in both research and teaching. The department offers undergraduate BSc and MSci programmes in Chemistry and currently teaches ~750 undergraduates registered in Chemistry as well as students who select Chemistry on the Natural Sciences programme and first year Chemistry for life scientists. The department also offers a number of Postgraduate Taught Masters courses with about 80 students per year and has an overall PGR student school of about 200 students. The Chemistry Department has over 60 members of academic staff carrying out world-leading research. We specialise in the areas of organic synthesis, chemical biology, computational chemistry, nanotechnology, inorganic and materials chemistry, physical chemistry and chemical physics. The department has an annual research income of around £15 million, derived from many sources including the Research Councils (EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, and NERC), European Commission and a wide range of charities and industrial partners in the UK, Europe and the USA. Details about our research can be found on the departmental website http://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemistry.About the role Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work in the group of Dr Yang Xu in the Department of Chemistry at University College London. The appointee will investigate potassium-sulphur batteries. A key feature of the project will be to understand the electrochemistry of potassium-sulphur reactions including the behaviour of electrochemical potassium plating/stripping on current collector and the phase transition of sulphur oxidation/reduction reactions, to improve the kinetics of potassium-sulphur reactions by developing electrocatalysts. The position is funded by the Leverhulme Trust for up to 36 months. The candidates will join the research team of Dr Yang Xu in the Department of Chemistry at the Bloomsbury Campus of University College London. Information about Dr Yang Xu’s research can be found at https://xulab.uk.The postholder will be required to investigate the anode/electrolyte interfacial kinetics and reduce metal dendrite growth, examine the multi-phase reactions of the cathode and phase sequence of the oxidation/reduction of the cathode, and discovery and synthesis efficient catalysts to improve the kinetics of the cell reaction and the performance of the cell. The appointee will be part of a collaboration team and as such be required to present results and contribute significantly to a feedback loop. Experimental work will be carried out independently but also as part of a team of researchers based in the Department of Chemistry, and through collaborations with other research collaborators. The postholders will be expected to supervise PhD and master’s students, write drafts of reports and papers, and manage lab safety.About you The successful candidate will have a PhD degree (or about to be awarded a PhD) in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related subject. Expertise in conversion cathode materials and alkali metal batteries as well as experience in mechanistic investigation of battery electrochemistry via a suite of in-situ/ex-situ characterisations are essential. They should have an appropriate publication track record, demonstrated commitment to excellence, and exceptional skills in mechanistic study of battery electrochemistry. They will be expected to work closely with existing group members and collaborative team, offer supervision and support to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and have effective written and verbal communication skills in English.What we offer As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: • 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) • Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme • Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan • Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts • On-Site nursery • On-site gym • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service • Discounted medical insurance Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.Available documents

Expected salary

Location

North West London

Job date

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:59:19 GMT

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (globalvacancies.org) you saw this job posting.