Postdoctoral Researcher – Battery and Critical Minerals/Materials R&D Research at National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, CO
- Company: National Laboratory of the Rockies
- Location: Golden, CO
- Posted: Sep 24, 2026
- Type: Full-time
- Salary: $76,600 - $126,400
Overview
NLR's Battery Materials Group develops materials for battery applications and other critical mineral and material technologies. The Group has an opening for one or more postdoctoral researchers. This position will support hands-on materials science research and development with a focus on lab work t…
Job description
- NLR's Battery Materials Group develops materials for battery applications and other critical mineral and material technologies. The Group has an opening for one or more postdoctoral researchers.
- This position will support hands-on materials science research and development with a focus on lab work to support lithium-ion-battery materials development projects and critical mineral/material separation and electrochemical processing projects. The technologies of interest include conventional lithium-ion materials and next-generation battery technologies as well as electrochemical deposition for critical materials processing.
- The successful candidate will perform some of the following tasks: design experiments and experimental matrices; synthesize, process, and/or coat battery materials; perform in-situ and ex-situ materials characterization; fabricate electrodes; fabricate electrochemical cells; perform electrochemical testing; separate critical materials; deposit critical materials electrochemically; analyze electrochemical and materials characterization data from experiments; and work with project task leads to write papers and reports.
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Responsibilities
- Design experiments and experimental matrices
- Synthesize, process, and/or coat battery materials
- Perform in-situ and ex-situ materials characterization
- Fabricate electrodes
- Fabricate electrochemical cells
- Perform electrochemical testing
- Separate critical materials
- Deposit critical materials electrochemically
- Analyze electrochemical and materials characterization data from experiments
- Work with project task leads to write papers and reports
Requirements
- Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
- * Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
- PhD in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or physics
- Experience fabricating and testing electrochemical cells
- Experience conducting materials characterization for critical minerals/materials or battery materials
- Experience synthesizing, depositing, separating, or processing critical minerals/materials or battery materials
- Demonstrated ability to work independently
- Demonstrated ability to process, plot, and interpret electrochemical data
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills
- Demonstrated teamwork, creativity, innovation, and adaptability
- Ability to attend and present research to the scientific community
- Python, MATLAB, Igor Pro, or other coding expertise for developing data analysis and processing tools
- Experience synthesizing or processing battery electrode materials
- Experience fabricating battery coin or pouch cells
- Experience conducting battery-specific materials characterization
- Experience fabricating battery electrodes
- Experience with electrochemical deposition
- Experience with critical mineral/materials processing
- Experience synthesizing and testing solid-state electrolytes
- Experience with water-in-salt, high-concentration, or hydrate-melt electrolytes
- Experience with advanced lithium-ion battery materials such as silicon, or advanced cathodes such as LMFP, low Co materials like LMR, DRX, etc.
- Experience with next generation battery materials development, such as Na-ion, Sulfur, or other conversion cathodes
- Experience with designing or testing batteries for non-traditional applications (high power, ultra-safe, fast charge, low temp, etc.)
- Experience working on outside-of-the-box cell designs such as in-situ cells or advanced components like light-weight current collectors and advanced separators to improve safety or performance
- Expertise in analytical electrochemistry and identifying degradation mechanisms
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Skills
Required
- Materials characterization
- Battery coin or pouch cell fabrication
- Battery electrode fabrication
- Electrochemical deposition
- Critical mineral/materials processing
- In-situ cells and advanced components
Benefits
- Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.
- * Based on eligibility rules
- Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
- Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400
- NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
About National Laboratory of the Rockies
NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth. At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being. The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy. NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on-site, off-site, or via telephone or videoconference. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NLR by the Department of Energy (DOE).