Scientist - Electrochemistry and Characterization

Who We Are

We change the landscape of what is possible with batteries. Our technology is a new chemistry that increases the energy density of Li-Ion batteries, which enables more features and design options for consumer devices and longer range, higher performance, and greater affordability for electric vehicles. Our product works today, drops into existing battery manufacturing processes, and is manufacturable economically at scale.

We believe how we work together is as important as the great things we accomplish. Foundational to this belief is building an inclusive and distinctive culture – one that is collectively shaped and owned by all Silazens. 

Who You Are

You are a creative, hands-on scientist with a strong desire to cooperatively dig deep into electrochemical reaction mechanisms and impedance phenomena of electrolytes by applying -- or inventing and building, if necessary -- the best instrumentation and electrochemical, spectroscopic, and materials science methods available. This will be in the service of developing, understanding, and optimizing the next-generation of electrolyte co-solvents, Li salts, and additives. You will use collaborative problem-solving skills to work closely with multiple scientists of varying backgrounds to tackle complex technical challenges and generate new knowledge at the leading edge of battery science.

Responsibilities & Duties 

• Initiate, develop, and apply new approaches, instrumentation, and analytics for characterizing electrochemical reactions and impedance phenomena.
• Design experiments to expand our understanding of the physico-chemical properties of electrolyte components and their interactions with anodes, cathodes, binders, and separators.
• Identify safety hazards and opportunities for improvement. Work cooperatively to address them.
• Help co-develop the best methods and systems for doing science in industry. 
• Serve as a mentor to others in the team, offer active listening, collaborative brainstorming, and cooperative hands-on laboratory exploration.

Knowledge & Skill Requirements 

• Experience exploring fundamental electrochemical reactions: hands-on time building and/or modifying instrumentation to collect the best data, as well as interpretation of the data to provide a fundamental understanding of electrochemical reaction mechanisms and connect them to the molecular properties of electrolytes involved
• Domain expertise in at least two analytical and/or spectroscopic methods, such as FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, microscopy techniques, surface analysis (e.g. XPS), elemental analysis, and NMR spectroscopy and interpretation, to collect reproducible data and support reaction mechanism models
• Experience in battery research and electrochemical methods, such as CV, galvanostatic cycling, and EIS.
• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field discipline
• 2+ years of industry experience after PhD