Research Positions at Northwestern University

  1. Post-Doctoral fellowship in Solid-State Optoelectronic Device Physics
  2. Post-Doctoral fellowship in Advanced Semiconductors and Devices
  3. Post-Doctoral fellowship in multi-junction perovskite solar cells
  4. Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Perovskite Solar Modules
  5. Research Associate – Lead Engineer, Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules
  6. Dunn-Sargent Jointly-advised Post-Doctoral Fellowships in CO2 capture and upgrade: Technoeconomic analysis (TEA), life-cycle assessment (LCA), and process design and optimization
  7. Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Electrochemistry: Electrochemical synthesis of alcohols, multi-carbon products: electrochemical systems and process design
  8. Post-Doctoral Fellowships in electrified capture and upgrade of CO2 on the path to sustainable aviation fuels and decarbonized chemicals: Electrochemical systems and process design
  9. Sargent Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Computational Electrocatalysis

 

Post-Doctoral fellowship in Solid-State Optoelectronic Device Physics

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team focused on emerging optoelectronic devices. The successful candidate will contribute to the design, fabrication, testing, modeling, and analysis of solar cells and photodetectors to advance understanding and optimization of these devices. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovative research environment, pushing the boundaries of next-generation solid-state optoelectronics.

Responsibilities: 

  • Focus on achieving original first-authored publications in interdisciplinary academic journals.
  • Conduct device modeling and (electrical and photophysical) characterization to test the models.
  • Collaborate with device experts to analyze and tackle energy-loss mechanisms, degradation mechanisms, and improve transport properties.
  • Mentor and advise graduate students and research assistants working on related projects.
  • Contribute to grant writing and actively seek external funding opportunities to support ongoing research efforts.

Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field, with strong expertise in solid-state semiconducting devices.
  • Expertise in modeling of optoelectronic devices, preferably with a specialization in solar cells and/or photodetectors.
  • Proficiency in device simulation software such as Sentaurus, Silvaco, TCAD, Setfos, and experience with device modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C++, or equivalent).
  • Profound understanding of semiconductor physics and solid-state device operation principles.
  • Additional qualifications of interest:
  • Device fabrication skills and experience with at least one {colloidal quantum dots, 2D materials, perovskites, silicon, organics} or other advanced semiconductors.
  • Experience with device characterization and analytical methods, such as optical (e.g. PL, TRPL, TA, TPC) and electrical (e.g. EL, EQE, impedance spectroscopy) measurements.
  • Experience in analyzing experimental data and working collaboratively with other experimentalists.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a track record of publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, effectively managing time and prioritizing tasks.

Salary: $61,008 USD/year

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply:

Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 3 referees that are prepared to be consulted using the link here. If you have any questions, please contact: (hiring.light@fastmail.com). Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled. 

Posting Date: April 15, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

 

Post-Doctoral fellowship in Advanced Semiconductors and Devices

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team focused on emerging semiconductors and microelectronics. Our research focuses on discovering new materials interface concepts relevant to future semiconductors and devices—including high-k gate dielectrics, advanced channel materials (e.g. 2D materials) and interconnects to provide high-performance energy-efficient, devices for future computing. Our approach is to unite basic and applied science to pursue these mission-oriented goals. Our team attracts and relies upon experts in chemistry (physical chemistry, surface chemistry, computational chemistry), physics (device physics and materials physics) and engineering (materials synthesis/properties/processing, electrical/device engineering), often with a significant role for AI/machine learning in seeking to accelerate discovery.

Responsibilities: 

  • Focus on achieving original first-authored publications in interdisciplinary academic journals.
  • Design and optimize synthetic routes for emerging semiconducting materials, utilizing a spectrum of synthesis techniques including solution-based methods, vapor deposition (PVD, CVD, and ALD), and relevant cleanroom techniques (E-beam lithography, photo-lithography, dry or wet etching).
  • Characterization of materials and devices made using these materials.
  • Mentor and advise graduate students and research assistants working on related projects.
  • Contribute to grant writing and actively seek external funding opportunities to support ongoing research efforts.
  • Qualifications:
  • Ph.D. in materials science, electrical engineering, chemistry, physics, or a related field
  • Strong background and expertise in device fabrication and characterization techniques
    • Strong experience in transistor fabrication, including relevant cleanroom techniques (photolithography, electron beam lithography, wet or dry etching
    • Familiarity with the optimization of ALD materials deposition (experience with super-cycling or other advanced ALD techniques preferred)
    • Device and materials level characterization and analysis (including transistor IV, SEM, AFM, XPS, ALD, 2D materials, high-k materials, low-k materials)
    • Deep knowledge of solid-state semiconductors and physics
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment

Salary: $61,008 USD/year

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply:

Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 3 referees that are prepared to be consulted using the link here. If you have any questions, please contact: (hiring.light@fastmail.com). Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled. 

Posting Date: April 15, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

 

Post-Doctoral fellowship in multi-junction perovskite solar cells

We are seeking highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Fellows to join our research team in synthesizing key functional materials, developing device prototypes, and characterizing next-generation multi-junction perovskite solar cells. Our specific programs include the development of efficient and stable wide bandgap (>1.7 eV) and narrow bandgap (<1.3 eV) perovskite solar devices. The successful candidates will have a strong background in materials science, chemistry, engineering, or related fields, with experience in synthesizing and characterizing, and deploying novel materials in optoelectronic applications. Experience in all-perovskite tandem integration, including encapsulation approaches and device-level fabrication, characterization, and stability evaluation, is highly desirable.

Responsibilities:

  • Focus on achieving original first-authored publications in interdisciplinary academic journals.
  • Design and optimize synthetic routes for fabricating high-quality perovskite materials, utilizing various synthesis techniques including solution-based methods, vapor deposition, and other relevant techniques.
  • Prototype solar cell devices and conduct electrical and photophysical characterizations
  • Mentor and advise graduate students and research assistants working on related projects.
  • Contribute to grant writing and actively seek external funding opportunities to support ongoing research efforts.

Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in materials science, chemistry, physics, or a related field
  • Strong background and expertise in materials synthesis and characterization techniques
  • Familiarity with multi-junction solar cells and relevant device physics.
  • Experience with reliability and accelerated testing
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment

Salary: $61,008 USD/year

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply:

Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 3 referees that are prepared to be consulted using the link here. If you have any questions, please contact: (hiring.light@fastmail.com). Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled. 

Posting Date: April 15, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

 

Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Perovskite Solar Modules

We are seeking highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Fellows to join our research team in advancing the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar modules. Our research focuses on developing next-generation high-performance perovskite devices, with an emphasis on large-area device fabrication, material innovation, and stability enhancement. The successful candidate will have a strong background in materials science, chemistry, physics, and process engineering, with expertise in synthesizing, characterizing, and integrating novel materials into optoelectronic applications.

Candidates with experience in large-area device fabrication, charge transport engineering, interface passivation strategies, and degradation mechanisms of perovskite solar modules are encouraged to apply. Experience with encapsulation strategies, stability testing under ISOS protocols, and reliability analysis is highly desirable.

Responsibilities:

  • Focus on achieving original first-authored publications in interdisciplinary academic journals.
  • Develop high-performance and stable perovskite and charge transport materials 
  • Develop, optimize, and stabilize perovskite solar modules, including material innovation, device architecture engineering, charge transport layer optimization, and defect passivation strategies.
  • Perform electrical, optical, and photophysical characterizations to understand fundamental device physics and degradation mechanisms.
  • Mentor and supervise graduate students and research assistants involved in related projects.
  • Contribute to grant writing and actively seek external funding to support research activities.

Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in materials science, chemistry, physics, engineering, or a related field.
  • Strong expertise in materials synthesis, film processing such as slot die and blade coating, and advanced characterization techniques.
  • Experience in fabrication, optimization, and stabilization of perovskite solar modules.
  • Familiarity with stability testing, module encapsulation techniques, degradation analysis, and reliability assessment under operational conditions.
  • Excellent scientific writing and communication skills.
  • Ability to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.

Salary: $61,008 USD/year

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply:

Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 3 referees that are prepared to be consulted using the link here. If you have any questions, please contact: (hiring.light@fastmail.com). Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled. 

Posting Date: April 15, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

 

Research Associate – Lead Engineer, Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules

The Sargent Group is seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to serve the role of Lead Engineer, Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules in our team, focusing on the enhancement and optimization of baseline performance for single-junction and multi-junction perovskite solar cells and modules. This position emphasizes device engineering, e.g. thin film coating, process optimization, device characterization. It provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge solar energy research within a collaborative and innovative environment.

Responsibilities

  • Enhance and optimize the baseline performance of single-junction and multi-junction perovskite solar cells and modules.
  • Perform thin-film deposition using advanced preparation techniques.
  • Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments for device fabrication and testing.
  • Collaborate with the team to develop and refine scalable fabrication processes for solar cells and modules.
  • Assist in maintaining a well-organized and efficient laboratory environment.

Qualifications

  • Master’s or PhD degree in materials science, engineering, applied physics, or a related field. 
  • Proficiency in thin-film deposition techniques, such as spin-coating, evaporation, or sputtering, slot-die coating, blade coating, etc.
  • Hands-on experience with equipment operation and maintenance.
  • Previous experience in fabricating single-junction and multi-junction perovskite solar cells and modules is highly desirable.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent teamwork and communication abilities.

Salary: $80,000 USD/year

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply:

Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 3 referees that are prepared to be consulted using the link here. If you have any questions, please contact: (hiring.light@fastmail.com). Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled. 

Posting Date: April 15, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

 

Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Electrochemistry: Electrochemical synthesis of alcohols, multi-carbon products: electrochemical systems and process design

Area of Research: Our research focuses on using electricity to power chemical transformations involving carbon. The goal is to reduce the carbon intensity of the production of chemicals and fuels that, today, mostly rely on fossil hydrocarbons. We seek especially to lower the intensity of large-scale commodity chemicals and fuels.

Our approach is to unite basic and applied science in order to pursue this mission-oriented goal. Our team seeks to attract experts in chemistry (electrochemistry, physical chemistry, operando spectroscopy and surface chemistry) and engineering (membrane, reactor design, materials processing, and chemical engineering).

Specific programs we lead include:

  • CO2 upcycling to liquid products (e.g. propanol, acrylic acid) and other multi-carbon products.
  • Electrochemical systems and process designs that enable durable and efficient operation; electrolyzers and reactors that minimize energy loss and produce concentrated liquid products. Systems approaches the minimize total end-to-end production costs, including the totality of electrolyzer + product separation costs.
  • Electrolyzer subsystem engineering, including advanced ion-exchange membranes, separators, and gas diffusion electrodes.

Description of Duties: Successful candidates will place their major focus on achieving original first-authored publications in interdisciplinary academic journals. They will work effectively in a team environment and will value the chance to reach across disciplines, and to work with partners in industry and at our partner U.S. Department of Energy national labs. Post-doctoral fellows will take advantage of the opportunity to increase their mentoring skills, helping doctoral students to develop as next-generation scientists-engineers.

Essential Qualifications:

  • Applicants must have received, or be close to receiving, their PhD degree in an area of science or engineering.
  • Applicants are sought who have backgrounds in a field of engineering or science relevant to CO2 chemistry, electrochemistry, membrane engineering and membrane science. We also seek candidates with expertise from relevant allied fields, such as thermocatalysis, transport phenomena, photocatalysis, fuel cells, batteries, water-splitting electrolyzers, and high-temperature/high-pressure reactors.
  • Applicants must possess at least one of the following, or transferable skills:
    • Systems experts focused on the design, fabrication, and investigation of flow systems and reactors, such as electrochemical flow cells, membrane electrode assembly devices, membrane reactors, electrochemical reactors with variable pressure and temperature. Researchers with allied experience in chemical separations will be prioritized.
    • Candidates with expertise in membrane development, such as preparation of polymer membranes, functionalization of membranes, kinetic studies of ion transport, and related membrane engineering in electrolysis.
    • Candidates with expertise in fundamental electrochemistry, such as studies of ion-intercalation mechanisms, charge transfer models, PCET mechanisms, field effects, and electrolyte engineering.
    • Candidates with expertise in the multiscales simulation of electrochemical systems, such as using finite-element models to study the combination of charge transport, ion transport, and neutral species transport, across electrolytes, membranes/separators, and overall systems.
  • Applicants with the following skills/experience will gain competitive advantage during evaluation
    • Multiphysics modelling such as COMSOL
    • Process modelling such as Aspen
    • Electrochemical reactor scale-up

Salary: $61,008 USD/year

Expected Start Date: June 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply:

Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 2 referees that are prepared to be consulted; your two most relevant publications. Please send as a single combined PDF whose file name includes your first and last names to Melissa Rosen (melissa.rosen@northwestern.edu) with the subject line CO2 PDF Application-Alcohol. Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled.

Posting Date: March 17, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

 

Post-Doctoral Fellowships in electrified capture and upgrade of CO2 on the path to sustainable aviation fuels and decarbonized chemicals: Electrochemical systems and process design

Area of Research: Our research focuses on using electricity to power chemical transformations involving carbon. The goal is to reduce the carbon intensity of the production of chemicals and fuels that, today, mostly rely on fossil hydrocarbons. We seek especially to lower the intensity of large-scale commodity chemicals and fuels.

Our approach is to unite basic and applied science in order to pursue this mission-oriented goal. Our team seeks to attract experts in chemistry (electrochemistry, physical chemistry including operando spectroscopy and surface chemistry, computational chemistry) and engineering (especially materials synthesis/properties/processing, electrical engineering, chemical engineering), often with a significant role for AI/machine learning in seeking to accelerate discovery.

The specific programs we lead include:

  • Reactive capture: upgrading CO2 directly from the captured state.
  • CO2/CO upcycling, focusing especially on creating ever more valuable and complex molecules.
  • CO2 capture and release, emphasizing reducing the energy cost of CO2 release, and electrifying the full process.
  • Catalytic/continuous reactors for thermocatalytic processes
  • High-temperature/pressurized electrochemical systems,
  • Electrolyzer scale-up.

Description of Duties: Successful candidates will place their major focus on achieving original first-authored publications in interdisciplinary academic journals. They will work effectively in a team environment and will value the chance to reach across disciplines, and to work with partners in industry and at our partner U.S. Department of Energy national labs. Post-doctoral fellows will take advantage of the opportunity to increase their mentoring skills, helping doctoral students to develop as scientist-engineers.

Essential Qualifications:

  • Applicants must have received, or be close to receiving, their PhD degree in an area of science or engineering.
  • Applicants are sought who have backgrounds in a field of engineering or science relevant to CO2 chemistry and electrochemistry. We also seek candidates with expertise from relevant allied fields, such as transport phenomena, membrane engineering, membrane science, thermocatalysis, photocatalysis, fuel cells, batteries, water-splitting electrolyzers, and high-temperature/high-pressure reactors.
  • Applicants must possess at least one of the following, or transferable skills:
    • Systems experts focused on the design, fabrication, and investigation of flow systems and reactors, such as electrochemical flow cells, membrane electrode assembly devices, membrane reactors, spiral-wound modules, hollow fiber modules and gas-liquid contactors;
    • The design of materials for electrocatalysis and/or CO2 capture and release; mechanistic investigations of reactive pathways;
    • Materials chemistry/synthesis including of laminate/2D materials, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, high-entropy alloys and oxides, single-atom and other advanced catalysts;
    • Candidates with expertise in fundamental electrochemistry, such as studies of ion-intercalation mechanisms, charge transfer models, PCET mechanisms, field effects, and electrolyte engineering
  • Applicants with the following skills/experience will gain competitive advantage during evaluation
    • Multiphysics modelling such as COMSOL
    • Process modelling such as Aspen/Aspen Plus
    • Techno-economic assessment
    • Life-cycle assessment, such as using Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model
    • Electrochemical reactor scale-up

Salary: $61,008 USD/year

Expected Start Date: June 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply:

Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 2 referees that are prepared to be consulted; your two most relevant publications. Please send as a single combined PDF whose file name includes your first and last names to Melissa Rosen (melissa.rosen@northwestern.edu) with the subject line CO2 PDF Application-System.

Posting Date: March 17, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

 

Sargent Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Computational Electrocatalysis

Area of Research: The Sargent group aims to harness green electricity to power chemical transformations involving carbon. The goal is to reduce the carbon intensity of the production of chemicals and fuels that, today, mostly rely on fossil hydrocarbons. We seek especially to lower the intensity of large-scale commodity chemicals and fuels.

Our approach is to unite basic and applied science in order to pursue this mission-oriented goal. This job advertisement seeks to attract experts in computational chemistry/materials science/physics with an emphasis on AI/machine learning for accelerated materials exploration.

The specific programs we lead include:

  • Reactive capture: upgrading CO2 directly from the captured state [1].
  • CO2/CO upcycling, focusing especially on creating ever more valuable and complex molecules [2, 3].
  • CO2 capture and release, emphasizing reducing the energy cost of CO2 release, and electrifying the full process.
  • Green hydrogen, focusing on platinum-group-metals-free, durable and highly active oxygen evolution catalysts for water electrolyzers.
  • Coupled electrolysis, wherein reductive chemistries (such as CO2-to-value) are paired with an economically valuable anodic reaction, an example of which is propylene to propylene oxide/propylene glycol [4, 5].

Description of Duties: A successful applicant will have major focus on achieving first-authored publications in interdisciplinary academic journals, in addition to collaborative efforts in support of experimental groupmates. Said applicant will work effectively in a team environment and will value the chance to reach across disciplines, and to work with partners in industry and at our partner U.S. Department of Energy national labs to develop advanced methods to accelerate materials discovery. Post-doctoral fellows will take advantage of the opportunity to increase their mentoring skills, helping doctoral students to develop as scientist-engineers.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Applicant must have received, or be close to receiving, their PhD degree in an area of science or engineering (including computer science/engineering)
  • Experience in catalysis (preferably heterogeneous)
  • Experience in quantum chemistry calculations (preferably plane-wave DFT codes such as VASP or Quantum Espresso)
  • Experience in microkinetic modeling
  • Experience in high-performance cluster computing

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in AI/ML techniques for materials discovery
  • Experience in grand canonical DFT for electrocatalysis

Salary: $61,000 USD/year

Expected Start Date: June 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Appointment: Term – (12 months) with the potential for renewal

How to apply: Please include in your application package a cover letter; your full academic CV; information on 2 referees that are prepared to be consulted; your two most relevant publications. Please send as a single combined PDF whose file name includes your first and last names to Melissa Rosen (melissa.rosen@northwestern.edu) with the subject line CO2 PDF Application-Modelling. Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until filled.

Posting Date: March 17, 2025

Closing Date: May 15, 2025

References