Nanoscience Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal — helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University's 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit:

The mission of the Nanoscience department is to prepare students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds to conduct basic and advanced research in Nanoscience in industrial, governmental or academic settings. Within this context, the Nanoscience Department provides a graduate level trans-disciplinary educational and discovery research experience in the nanosciences, sustainable nanosystems, innovation and community engaged outreach. It also works collaboratively with the Nanoengineering Department to achieve an integrated foundational research program in emerging high impact areas. Scientists in this new and emerging field seek to comprehend, gather and organize knowledge of the nanoworld through careful observations and creative, visionary thinking.

Nanoscience is a multidisciplinary field bringing together vast knowledge from mathematics and all the core sciences: physics, biology, chemistry, and from their derivatives such as material science, pharmacology, neurochemistry, ecology etc. Consequently, nanoscientists are scientists engaging in an organized activity of manipulation of materials at atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales that are versatile and fluent in mathematics and the core sciences with a particular world view based on the synergy of these core sciences and on their derived applications to the macro world. Nanoscience is a new way of thinking about old things.

Position Summary:

Dr. Rathnayake's Nanomaterials laboratory seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on NCI Funded project that focuses on scalable synthesis of cathode materials. A talented individual should have expertise in battery materials, cathode fabrication, and electrochemical property evaluation, colin cell fabrication, and process engineering. This project is highly translational and involve sharp deadlines and deliverables. Individual with devotion to the work with strong work ethics will be considered, including meeting report submission deadlines, and project deliverable on time.

The primary responsibilities include: (1) Cathode materials synthesis using a scalable reactor design approach. (50%), and (2) Electrode preparation using roll-to-roll approach (25%), and (3) participate in customer discoveries and marketing research (10%), and (4) Scientific report writing and deliverables reports preparation.

In addition, this position expects driving the project goals and meeting the project objectives on-time with excellent work ethics to meet the project deliverables quarterly. Primary Tasks:(1) Conducting cathode materials synthesis and scaling up to meet the project goal.(2) Designing and optimization of the reactor and process engineering:

• Develop measurement protocols
• Electrochemical characterization
• Analytical characterization
• Coin cells preparation and testing

(3) Write scientific reports and prepare manuscripts for publication:

• Produce quarterly reports based on project outcomes to report to funders
• Prepare results and write manuscripts for submission for peer-review
• Organize results that will be used as preliminary data for grant applications, and participate in writing grants
• Provide weekly oral presentation reports at group meetings and biweekly written reports
• Attend NCI meetings

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in materials science, chemical engineering, or Chemistry with strong research background in battery chemistry.
• Minimum of one year experience in battery cell testing and cathode fabrication.
• Working knowledge and experience in the characterization using analytical instrumentations, and electrochemical measurements.
• Ability to develop technical reports describing the outcome of the project.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Over 3 years of experience in li-ion battery chemistry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to utilize analytical data and use the data to write scientific articles for publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Recruitment Range: $61,800

Org #-Department: Nanoscience - 13202

Job Open Date: 09/14/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

FTE: 1.000

Type of Appointment: Time Limited

If time-limited, please specify end date for appointment.: One year appointment, with possibility of reappointment

Number of Months per Year: 12

FLSA: Exempt

Percentage Of Time: 50

Key Responsibility: Cathode materials synthesis using a scalable reactor design approach

Essential Tasks:

• Conducting cathode materials synthesis and scaling up to meet the project goal.

Percentage Of Time: 25

Key Responsibility: Electrode preparation using roll-to-roll approach

Essential Tasks:

• Designing and optimization of the reactor and process engineering
• Develop measurement protocols
• Electrochemical characterization
• Analytical characterization
• Coin cells preparation and testing

Percentage Of Time: 10

Key Responsibility: Customer and Marketing Research

Essential Tasks:

• Participate in customer discoveries and marketing research

Percentage Of Time: 15

Key Responsibility: Scientific report writing and deliverables reports preparation

Essential Tasks:

• Produce quarterly reports based on project outcomes to report to funders.
• Prepare results and write manuscripts for submission for peer-review.
• Organize results that will be used as preliminary data for grant applications, and participate in writing grants.
• Provide weekly oral presentation reports at group meetings and biweekly written reports.
• Attend NCI meetings.

Physical Effort:

Hand Movement-Repetitive Motions - f, Hand Movement-Grasping - o, Holding - o, Finger Dexterity - o, Vision-Skilled Trades - f, Reading - f, Writing - f, Eye-hand coordination - o, Vision-Color Distinction - o, Vision-Preparing/Analyzing figures - o, Vision-Visual inspection - o, Vision-Measuring/Assembling at distance close to eye - r, Hearing - f, Talking - o, Standing - o, Sitting - o, Walking - o, Lifting-0-30 lbs. - o, Lifting-30-60 lbs. - o, Lifting-60-90 lbs. - r, Lifting-90 plus lbs. - r, Pushing/Pulling - o, Climbing-Stairs - o

Organization

UNCG at a Glance

Founded in 1891, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is the largest and most diverse state university in the Piedmont Triad. Standing apart from other universities, the UNCG community is joined together by a shared value: We define excellence not only by the people we attract, but by the meaningful contributions they make.

With more than 19,400 students and 2,500 faculty and staff, UNCG is the largest state university in the Piedmont Triad and has an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion. The campus has grown to include 30 residence halls and 30 academic buildings on 210 acres.

UNCG takes pride in being a learner-centered public research university. The College of Arts & Sciences and seven professional schools offer 79 undergraduate majors, 65 master's programs and 30 doctoral programs.

The university holds two classifications from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, as a "research university with high research activity" and for "community engagement" in curriculum, outreach and partnerships. More than $35 million in grants and contracts for research and creative activity are awarded to faculty members annually. Among the most prominent of UNCG's research initiatives are the Gateway University Research Park and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. Both are partnerships with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Globalization of the curriculum has expanded opportunities for international education, through new programs such as the UNC Exchange Program and the Lloyd International Honors College. In addition, innovative signature programs such as Building Entrepreneurial Learning for Life (BELL), Communication Across the Curriculum, Undergraduate Research and Freshman Seminars enhance the student experience.

As a cultural leader, UNCG offers concerts, lectures, dance and theater performances, exhibitions at the internationally known Weatherspoon Art Museum and readings by nationally known authors. In athletics, Spartan teams compete in nine women's and nine men's sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. With ethnic minority students making up 26 percent of the student body, UNCG is the most diverse of the UNC system's historically white campuses.

Although much has changed, some things remain the same. The university motto — "Service" — continues to be a guiding principle put into practice through all aspects of university life.

UNCG Schools and College of Arts & Sciences

The University's Academic Affairs Division consists of seven academic schools, the College of Arts & Sciences, the Graduate School and the Lloyd International Honors College. The names below are the ones currently in use. In some cases, the names have changed since the academic units were founded. The schools and their dates of establishment are: Graduate School 1921-22; College of Arts & Sciences 1969, Lloyd International Honors College 2005, Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering 2007, Joseph M. Bryan School of Business & Economics 1969, School of Education 1921, School of Health and Human Sciences 2011, School of Music, Theatre and Dance 2010, and School of Nursing 1966.

Achievements & Accolades

UNCG is garnering national attention and awards for its challenging academic programs, supportive environment and engaged community. Take a look at some of our latest accomplishments and meaningful contributions on campus, in the community and around the globe. Curious about more accolades, achievements, our student body, faculty and staff excellence and other signs of our success? Find out more at UNCG Now: http://newsandfeatures.uncg.edu/.

Challenging Academic Programs

U.S. News & World Report ranked three UNCG online programs among the best in the nation in the 2015 list of Best Online Programs.

UNCG's slate of online programs has earned a top 10 ranking for affordability from BestColleges.com.

The graduate program in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies has earned a Top 10 ranking by the The HDFS Report.

Supportive Environment

UNCG is a Military Friendly School for the fourth straight year, putting it in the top 15 percent of colleges and universities nationwide that are doing the most to support veterans and ensure their success.

UNCG is ranked among the best colleges for your money nationwide by College Factual, a new site that guides students through the college selection process.

The Education Trust singles out UNCG among the nation's universities for its success at closing the gap in graduation rates between black and white students.

Engaged Community

For the fifth year in a row, UNCG has earned the "Tree Campus USA" designation for promoting healthy trees and encouraging the spirit of conservation.

UNCG's innovative dynamic mailbox system has been honored as one of University Business Magazine's Models of Efficiency.

For the eighth consecutive year, UNCG is highlighted on Washington Monthly's list of American universities that contribute most to the public good.

Careers at UNCG

UNCG is committed to the creation of an inclusive, collaborative and responsive university by attracting, retaining and developing a diverse community of talented individuals in support of the university's mission.

Company info

Website: https://spartantalent.uncg.edu/

Telephone: 336-334-5009

Location: 723 Kenilworth Street, Greensboro, NC 27402, United States