Group Leader: Materials and Device Evaluation

The Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for a Group Leader to establish scientific vision, strategic direction, and operational leadership for a multidisciplinary research group focused on materials characterization, diagnostics, and autonomous discovery.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished scientific leader to advance fundamental and applied understanding of the relationships among materials composition, structure, processing, performance, and degradation. The group will build on Argonne’s leadership in energy storage and electrochemical science while expanding its impact across the broader energy-sciences landscape, including energy conversion, catalysis, separations, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability.

The successful candidate will lead the development and application of integrated materials and chemistry diagnostic capabilities, including physical, spectroscopic, metallographic, electrochemical, and related characterization methods. A central focus of the group will be systematic, rigorous materials evaluation that enables meaningful comparisons among materials, components, failure mechanisms, and technologies.

Research may include characterization of materials and interfaces under controlled and air-free conditions, including positive and negative electrodes, separators, electrolytes, and other environmentally sensitive materials systems.

The Group Leader will also establish a forward-looking research program that integrates automation, data infrastructure, machine learning, and agentic artificial intelligence to accelerate materials analysis, experimental planning, and autonomous discovery. By connecting advanced experimental diagnostics with data-driven approaches, the group will enable faster identification of structure–composition–property relationships and generate transferable scientific insight across a range of energy technologies.

As a scientific leader and principal investigator, the successful candidate will define and execute a high-impact research agenda; develop new programs and sponsor relationships; lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams; and cultivate collaborations across Argonne, the national laboratory system, academia, industry, and government agencies.

The Group Leader will work closely with Department, Theme, and Division leadership to grow the group, steward personnel and resources, and ensure alignment with the strategic priorities of the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other sponsors.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide scientific, technical, and organizational leadership for a high-performing multidisciplinary research group
• Define and implement a strategic vision that sustains leadership in energy-storage and electrochemical materials while broadening the group’s contributions across the energy sciences
• Develop and lead innovative experimental and computational research programs using physical, spectroscopic, metallographic, electrochemical, and related diagnostic methods
• Advance systematic approaches for evaluating materials performance, degradation mechanisms, and failure modes within and across energy technologies
• Establish and expand capabilities in automated experimentation, high-throughput characterization, data management, machine learning, and AI-enabled materials analysis and discover
• Serve as principal investigator for sponsored research, including project development, proposal preparation, budgeting, project execution, reporting, and delivery of high-quality research outcomes
• Oversee group operations, including personnel, facilities, equipment, budget, safety, and resource planning
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop scientific and technical staff, postdoctoral researchers, students, and visiting researchers
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance research culture that values scientific excellence, professional growth, responsible conduct of research, and diverse perspectives
• Build productive collaborations with colleagues across Argonne, other national laboratories, universities, industrial partners, and government sponsors
• Publish influential research; communicate results through presentations, technical reports, and scientific forums; and represent Argonne nationally and internationally
• Identify emerging research opportunities, maintain awareness of advances in materials characterization and AI-enabled science, and develop initiatives that expand the group’s research portfolio
• Ensure that all group activities comply with Argonne and DOE requirements for safety, security, environmental stewardship, responsible use of data, and responsible application of artificial intelligence
• Position Requirements
• Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, physics, or a closely related field, with postdoctoral and/or professional research experience
• Demonstrated record of high-impact research in materials characterization, diagnostics, electrochemistry, materials degradation, energy-storage science, or related energy-science fields
• Experience with complex materials systems, preferably including battery, electrochemical, or other energy-relevant materials
• Demonstrated ability to formulate important scientific questions; design and execute rigorous experimental programs; interpret complex data; and translate findings into broadly applicable scientific understanding
• Demonstrated success in securing and leading externally funded research programs, including proposal development, scope and budget management, and delivery of sponsor commitments
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing multidisciplinary research teams
• A strong record of peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and professional recognition appropriate to career stage
• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in one or more advanced characterization approaches, such as spectroscopy, microscopy, diffraction or scattering, metallography, electrochemical testing, thermal analysis, surface or interface analysis, or related techniques
• Interest in and demonstrated ability to advance the integration of laboratory automation, data science, machine learning, and/or agentic AI methods into experimental materials research
• Experience working with air-sensitive materials, controlled-environment instrumentation, or complex materials interfaces
• Skills and Attributes
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate scientific vision, technical findings, and strategic priorities to diverse internal and external audiences
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and organizations, including with partners at national laboratories, universities, industry, and government agencies
• Sound judgment and the ability to manage competing priorities while fostering accountability, inclusion, scientific integrity, and operational excellence
• A commitment to creating a welcoming, respectful, and collaborative environment where team members can contribute, develop, and succeed
• Argonne National Laboratory offers the opportunity to work alongside leading researchers and technical experts to address some of the nation’s most important scientific and energy challenges. We welcome candidates who are energized by collaborative research, committed to developing people and programs, and eager to shape the future of materials diagnostics and autonomous discovery.
• Job Family
• Research Development (RD)
• Job Profile
• Chemistry Leader 1
• Worker Type
• Regular
• Time Type
• Full time
• The expected hiring range for this position is $148,125.00 - $231,075.00.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!

As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.

All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis.  Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements.

Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.