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Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

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Position Summary:

The Adams Laboratory at Rice University seeks to hire a postdoctoral research associate. The Adams Lab focuses on developing technologies for decarbonization and electrification of chemical synthesis and pollution remediation through energy-efficient catalytic systems. The Adams Lab combines thermal and electrochemical techniques to develop fundamental design principles of how a given catalyst converts reacting species through a series of elementary steps. The Adams Lab seeks to achieve these aims by using high-throughput reactor engineering to measure kinetic information on catalytic materials, use operando spectroscopy to identify proposed reaction species, and develop fundamental kinetic models that relate material properties to their kinetic and thermodynamic properties to guide the design of new catalysts. Our goal is to develop an atomically specific understanding of catalyst properties to engineer the next generation of materials relevant to energy transition technologies.

Rice University has now become a hub for advancing the energy transition as it is based in the heart of Houston, the energy capital of the world. The focus on catalysis, electrochemistry, and energy is pre-eminent at Rice, particularly in the chemical and biomolecular engineering department and its closely related disciplines.

The position involves conducting advanced research focused on developing high-throughput systems to study kinetic parameters in electrochemical systems. The candidate will develop reactors that can extract information quickly and ideally automate collecting and analyzing relevant data for energy-relevant conversions. Responsibilities include engineering the relevant system, designing and optimizing protocols for operating the system, efficiently and rigorously processing results from the system, and developing meaningful interpretations of those data. The candidate will document research findings through reports, presentations, and publications that advance the field of electrocatalysis.

The ideal candidate is a skilled researcher with expertise in electrocatalysis, reactor design, automation engineering, and rigorous mathematical and analytic treatments of such systems. Ideally, the candidate should have strong fundamentals in the underly chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport of catalytic systems. The candidate should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and critical thinking skills, enabling them to design and optimize protocols for high throughput catalytic studies effectively. They should excel in data analysis and quantification of results, paired with exceptional organizational skills to manage complex research projects.

In addition to technical expertise, the candidate should possess excellent communication skills, including the ability to document findings through detailed reports, professional presentations, and publications. They are highly collaborative, capable of working effectively with multidisciplinary teams, and willing to travel to research sites to engage in experimental work actively. Their proactive attitude, attention to detail, and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge make them a valuable contributor to focused catalysis research and its applications.

This position is fully funded and will involve a 1-year contract, which can be renewed on an annual basis. Continued employment is contingent on the performance and maintenance of the funding.

More info about Adams Lab https://adams.blogs.rice.edu/

Workplace Requirements:

The work will be performed exclusively on campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $52,000

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

This position is a benefits-eligible, full-time position funded by a grant, soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on satisfactory performance and renewal of funding.

Minimum Requirements:

Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Applied Physics, or related disciplines

Skills:

• Knowledge of electrochemistry and electrocatalysis
• Background in catalyst synthesis, characterization, and design
• Competence in spectroscopy, such as UV-VIS, Raman, FTIR, and XAS
• Proficiency in electrochemical cell design and operation
• Strong basis in underly chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport of catalytic systems
• Data Analysis and Quantification for quantification of chemical products
• Understanding of Protocol Development
• Analytical Problem-Solving and Research
• Collaborative Research Abilities
• Leadership and Teamwork
• Independent and Collaborative Work
• Strong communication skills for scientific writing and presentation

Preferences:

• Experience in in situ spectroscopy, such as UV-VIS, Raman, FTIR, and XAS
• Experience with mechanistic studies of catalysis
• Experience with mathematical treatments of reaction mechanisms
• Experience with understanding material stability and corrosion
• Experience with advanced reactor engineering and mathematical treatments
• Experience with automation engineering
• Experience with 3-D printing of custom unit operations
• Experience with grant writing
• Experience with student mentorship and leadership

Essential Functions:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research in chemical and biomolecular engineering
• Design and execute catalytic studies
• Review literature and state-of-the-art research on relevant topics
• Develop well-formed hypotheses related to catalytic functions
• Collect rigorous data to test hypotheses
• Publish research findings in reputable scientific journals
• Present research at scientific conferences
• Maintain detailed records of research activities and findings
• Contribute to writing research proposals for private and government funding
• Mentor and supervise students, supporting their development in analysis, writing, and scientific reasoning
• Potentially guide the scope and direction of student-led projects
• Assist in maintaining and building scientific equipment to support ongoing research
• Contribute to the development of analytical tools for use in the lab
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.