Research Associate - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Case Western Reserve University - Cleveland, OH

Full-time - Entry Level

Cleveland, OH

Educational Services

About the position

The Research Associate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Case Western Reserve University will engage in a variety of projects focused on electrochemical characterization and in-situ spectroscopy techniques. These projects aim to investigate electrolytes and electron transfer reactions pertinent to electrocatalysis, energy storage, and reactive separations. Funded by federal agencies, the overarching goal is to enhance the understanding of electrode-electrolyte interfaces, which is crucial for advancing energy storage systems, promoting decarbonization, and fostering sustainability initiatives. The Research Associate will play a pivotal role in managing these projects, which includes attending regular meetings with collaborators, preparing detailed reports, and providing training to students on laboratory instruments and electrochemical methods. The essential functions of this position include conducting laboratory experiments, which encompass synthesis, characterization, voltammetry, and analytical measurements, accounting for 30% of the role. Another 30% will be dedicated to preparing research findings for publication and conference presentations, alongside writing reports. Project management and proposal writing will take up 26% of the time, while supervising technical staff and students, organizing subgroup meetings, and providing mentorship will constitute 5%. The remaining 5% involves training students on the use of various laboratory equipment such as potentiostats, rotating disk electrodes (RDE), gas chromatography (GC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. In addition to these essential functions, the Research Associate will assist with new equipment setup and method development, check laboratory orders, manage material shipments to and from collaborators, and handle paperwork related to safety and chemical inventory. The position requires significant interaction with students, departmental staff, external collaborators, and university personnel, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the research environment.

Responsibilities

• Perform experiments in the lab including synthesis, characterization, voltammetry, and analytical measurements.
• Prepare research results for publication and conference presentations; write reports.
• Write proposals and manage projects.
• Supervise other technical staff and students on research projects; organize subgroup meetings and provide one-on-one mentorship.
• Train students on the use of laboratory equipment such as potentiostats, RDE, GC, NMR, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy.
• Assist with new equipment setup and method development.
• Check laboratory orders and handle material shipments to and from collaborators.

Requirements

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Materials Science and Engineering.
• Experience in electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering.
• Knowledge of electrolytes based on ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents.
• Experience in carbon dioxide capture and conversion.
• Expertise in electrochemical characterization techniques and ionic liquids synthesis and characterization.
• Proficiency in spectroscopy and chromatography techniques including GC, NMR, and Raman.
• Proven track record in publishing in high-quality journals.
• Experience working in team settings and demonstrated independence in leading projects.