Postdoctoral Fellow
in solid/gel electrolytes, full/pouch cell fabrication and graphite-anode development
Supervisor: Dr. Karim Zaghib
Department: Chemical and Materials Engineering, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start Date: Winter 2027
PDF Fellowship: 50K CAD per year, renewable
Project Overview
We are seeking an accomplished and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our advanced energy storage research program and contribute to the development of next-generation lithium-ion and advanced battery technologies in collaboration with academic and industrial partners.
The successful candidate will conduct research focused on graphite anode development, including the evaluation of graphite materials, electrode formulation and fabrication, electrochemical characterization, and validation in practical battery cells. The research will involve transforming graphite materials from powder into optimized battery electrodes and evaluating their performance in coin-cell and pouch-cell types.
The project will also involve solid polymer and gel polymer electrolytes and solid-state/semi-solid-state battery systems. The successful candidate should therefore combine strong expertise in graphite-anode development with hands-on experience working with advanced electrolyte technologies.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, fabricate, and optimize graphite anodes starting from graphite powder, including material evaluation, electrode formulation, slurry preparation, coating, drying, calendaring, and electrode processing.
- Characterize graphite powders and electrodes using relevant structural, morphological, surface, and physicochemical characterization techniques.
- Design, assemble, optimize, and evaluate full lithium-ion cells and pouch cells.
- Work with solid polymer and gel polymer electrolytes and contribute to the fabrication and evaluation of solid-state and semi-solid-state battery systems.
- Investigate electrode–electrolyte compatibility, interfacial stability, ionic transport, electrolyte composition and their effects on cell performance.
- Optimize practically relevant electrode and cell parameters, including active-material loading, electrode thickness, porosity, N/P ratio, electrolyte quantity, formation protocols, and operating conditions.
- Perform electrochemical characterization including galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), rate capability testing, GITT/PITT, differential capacity (dQ/dV) analysis, and long-term cycling.
- Investigate first-cycle Coulombic efficiency, SEI formation, lithium plating, capacity fading, impedance growth, and other degradation mechanisms affecting graphite-anode and full-cell performance.
- Evaluate battery performance under different charging rates, temperatures, electrode loadings, and other practically relevant operating conditions.
- Conduct materials and post-mortem characterization using techniques such as SEM/TEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, BET, XPS, and other relevant techniques.
- Independently develop experimental plans, troubleshoot technical problems, interpret results, and determine subsequent experimental directions.
- Develop experimental protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for electrode fabrication, cell assembly, testing, and characterization.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in Electrochemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related discipline.
- Extensive hands-on research experience in lithium-ion battery technology, including electrode fabrication, cell assembly, and electrochemical testing.
- Strong demonstrated expertise in graphite-anode development, including working with graphite materials/powders, electrode formulation and fabrication, characterization, and electrochemical performance evaluation.
- Hands-on experience working with solid polymer and/or gel polymer electrolytes and solid-state or semi-solid-state battery systems.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with full-cell fabrication and testing.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with pouch-cell fabrication and testing.
- Strong practical knowledge of electrode processing, including slurry formulation, coating, drying, calendaring, electrode loading, porosity, and related processing parameters.
- Strong knowledge of graphite-anode electrochemistry, including first-cycle Coulombic efficiency, SEI formation, lithium plating, rate capability, capacity degradation, and impedance growth.
- Experience with electrochemical characterization techniques including galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling, CV, EIS, rate testing, and long-term cycling.
- Experience with battery-material and electrode characterization techniques such as SEM/TEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, BET, and/or XPS.
- Demonstrated ability to independently design experiments, troubleshoot technical problems, interpret results, and determine subsequent experimental directions.
How to apply
Please send the following documents merged in 1 PDF to [email protected]:
- Cover Letter clearly explaining the applicant’s interest in the position and alignment with the research project. Applicants are encouraged to review the research team’s recent publications and highlight relevant expertise, research achievements, and potential contributions to the project.
- Academic CV including:
Complete list of publications, preferably with DOI, publisher, Google Scholar, or other accessible links.
Names and email addresses of three academic or professional referees.
- Optional supporting documents, such as patents, technical reports, certifications, or other materials demonstrating relevant research expertise.
Subject line/File name: Anode_Your name
Applications submitted as multiple separate files or with incomplete documentation may not be considered.
DATES: APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM SEPTEMBER 8 - SEPTEMBER 25. INTERVIEWS START ON SEPTEMBER 14.
For all questions, please contact Alisa Makusheva at [email protected]
If you are already in Canada, or if you Are a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, please highlight this in your communications.
