Postdoctoral Position in Critical Materials at UNC-Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in United States

The Department of Applied Physical Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a dynamic group focused on critical materials. This position centers on interdisciplinary materials science, with a strong emphasis on the discovery, synthesis, characterization, and application of advanced materials essential for energy, electronics, and sustainability. The group is launching and expanding a new project dedicated to addressing challenges in supply-chain resilience, sustainable extraction and processing, recycling, substitution, and the development of high-performance alternatives to materials such as rare-earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and other elements vital to clean energy technologies, semiconductors, and defense applications.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to conduct independent and collaborative research, with flexibility to align the project with their expertise and interests—whether experimental, computational, or a combination of both. Research directions may include synthesis and processing of critical material compounds or substitutes, advanced structural, chemical, and functional characterization, materials modeling and prediction using DFT or machine learning, recycling and circular economy approaches, and performance testing in devices such as batteries, magnets, and catalysts.

Key responsibilities include designing and executing experiments or simulations, analyzing data, preparing manuscripts for publication in high-impact journals, presenting results at conferences, collaborating with team members, contributing to grant proposals, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. The project is well-funded and offers collaborative opportunities with national labs, industry partners, and international collaborators.

Applicants should hold a PhD in materials science, chemistry, physics, or a closely related field, and have experience in experimental or computational research relevant to the position. Strong communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are important. The position is open for immediate start and will remain open until filled, with applications accepted year-round.

To apply, send an informal enquiry with your CV and transcript to Prof. Lin Ma at [email protected], including 'Prospective Postdoc' in the email title. For more information, visit the APS department website at https://aps.unc.edu/.