Reference no.: HI 2024/5
Achieving climate-neutrality within the next 20 years necessitates an innovation boost for the development of highly efficient, scalable, low-cost, and sustainably produced energy technologies. Polymer materials play a central role in this process.
HIPOLE deeply integrates and expands world-class expertise in polymer chemistry, materials science, high-throughput experimentation and artificial intelligence with complementary expertise in inorganic/hybrid materials, scalable devices, and advanced characterization.
We are looking for a postdoctral researcher (f/m/d) for our site in Jena and/or Berlin, Germany. You will have the chance to support the newly founded institute with your ideas and expertise from the very beginning and will collaborate with researchers from all over the world to contribute to the development of a climate-friendly future. The research focus should be on the topic of sustainable polymer research with a focus on polymers for energy applications, working on one of the following two thematic areas:
- Polymer-based thin film battery – synthesis and battery fabrication.
- Polymer-based redox flow battery – synthesis of new redox polymers and cell tests.
The postdoc should conduct research in at least one of these areas. For more information on each thematic focus, please visit Homepage – HIPOLE Jena und www.ceec.uni-jena.de/en.
Your Tasks
- Synthesis and characterization of novel molecules and polymers for application in polymer-based batteries (redox flow and thin film batteries) or as encapsulation material for solar cells (depending on the chosen topic).
- Preparation of electrodes and electrolytes for polymer-based batteries or the protective layer for solar cells and their physical and electrochemical characterization.
- Assembly and electrochemical characterization of polymer redox flow batteries, polymer-based thin film batteries and encapsulated solar cells.
- Supervision of bachelor/master students and doctoral students.
- Summary, presentation and publication of results (also in English).
Your Profile
- University degree in chemistry or a comparable course of study as well as PhD in the field of macromolecular chemistry, processing of polymers or related topics or in electrochemistry
- Very good knowledge of organic synthesis and polymer chemistry
- Knowledge of electrochemistry
- Knowledge of basic analytical techniques and methods
- General computer skills, including Origin, Python, LabView
- Very good knowledge of written and spoken English
- Very good publication record and ideally experience in obtaining external funding
- Experience in presenting scientific content (also in English)
You demonstrate a high level of commitment, initiative, problem-solving skills and the willingness to familiarize yourself with a wide range of tasks. You are characterized by your ability to work in a team, reliability, independence and communication skills (also in English). You enjoy working in an interdisciplinary, international team in a diverse and dynamic work environment.
Your Benefits at HZB
- An international / diversity-sensitive working environment at a Helmholtz institute with a workplace in the science city Jena or Berlin
- Good work-life balance (flexible work time models: flextime, part-time)
- 30 days paid leave
- Health management, company sports programs, company pension scheme (VBL)
- Financial support for public transport (Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket)
- Long-term prospects, opportunities for further development/training opportunities
- Payment according to the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-Bund)
Fixed term contract for 24 months. The salary is based on the Collective Agreement for the German Public Service (TVöD-Bund).
How to apply
We look forward to receiving your application via our application management system by 09.06.2024. For reasons of data protection regulations, we are unfortunately unable to consider applications that reach us by other means (such as email or mail) in the application process.
We very much want our workplace to be diverse, and welcome applications from people with different backgrounds. It is our mission to promote equal opportunities and to improve women’s representation in the workforce. We are therefore very interested in receiving applications from women. Where the qualifications are met, we will give preference to people with disabilities.