PREP0004120 Lithium Battery Recycling Researcher

PREP Research Associate

Opportunity No.: PREP0004120

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, and thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

APPLY ONLINE HERE

Lithium Battery Recycling Researcher

Project Description:

The Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking a Post-Doctoral Researcher (U.S. Citizens preferred) to support the Circular Economy program and critical minerals recovery research. The successful candidate will develop analytical methods for quantifying the elemental composition of mixed lithium battery waste (e.g., black mass) using ICP-OES. This role involves validating characterization processes and improving supply chains for critical materials/minerals.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Method Development: Establish bulk and trace analytical quantification methods for battery waste using ICP-OES and/or neutron activation
• Sample Preparation: Perform milling, grinding, and acid digestion of complex battery materials and associated reference materials
• Data Analysis: Execute measurements, interpret complex datasets, and validate results against industry standards
• Communication: Prepare findings for peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and oral presentations
• Compliance: Maintain strict adherence to institutional safety requirements, including radiological and hazardous chemical protocols

Desired Qualifications: 

• U.S. Citizens Preferred
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
• Proven experience with ICP-OES and acid digestion is required (> 3 years)
• Excellent written/oral communication and a track record of meeting milestones in multidisciplinary teams
• Must be comfortable working with large volumes of hazardous chemicals and under radiological conditions
• Familiarity with Li-ion battery chemistry, mineral processing, mechanical separations, or nuclear analytical methods

Other Details:

• Full-time: the participant is expected to work 40 hours a week
• Location: the participant will work at the NIST Gaithersburg Campus.
• Duration: this is expected to be a one year position. Extensions are sometimes granted depending on the availability of funds.
• For questions related to the research project or the nature of the work in this position, please contact Dr. Jamie Weaver (jamie.weaver@nist.gov). For questions related to the online application or NIST PREP more generally, please contact msu-nistprep@morgan.edu.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor’s degree holders, graduate students, master’s degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate the administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use the information you submit for the purpose stated.