Researcher - Bio-thermal-chemical

**Vegreville AB**

The Bio Industrial Services Division at InnoTech Alberta is seeking an Intermediate Researcher for the Bio-Thermal-Chemical Processing area of its Research and Development team. The successful incumbent will develop and lead projects related to battery material improvement, battery assembly and testing, and support the deployment innovative technologies and processes that will help build commerce in Alberta. The Intermediate Researcher will identify, pursue, and lead business development activities, prepare proposals for clients, design experiments and testing programs and actively conduct projects and direct technologists in the execution of projects. The position will require collaboration and interaction with colleagues, clients, and external experts.

This role will be based in our Vegreville facility, and will be for a full-time term position of 24 months.

**You would be a good fit for this position if you**:

- Are passionate about working with various energy storage focused client groups to conduct and lead assembly, testing, research and validation activities for cells and cell materials.
- Enjoy using your scientific expertise in order to actively conduct business development, engaging with stakeholders for new projects & initiatives
- Are able to utilize strong leadership, coaching, and technical skills in order to develop and guide others while encouraging a strong and collaborative team-based environment
- Excel at project management and enjoy tackling new challenges

**We are game changers**

Our R&D Team, with operations in Edmonton and Vegreville, comprises specialized facilities including green houses and a 300-acre research farm and expertise in Plant Sciences, biotechnology, biomass feedstock development, bio-processing, bio-conversion, thermo-chemical treatments and biomaterials engineering that help industry design, develop, demonstrate, utilize and commercialize new bio-material production processes. The team also provides services related to material development used in electrodes of various battery styles and the associated assembly and testing of battery cells. Key clients and partners served by this division include industries associated with forestry, agricultural, municipal sectors, SMEs, grant funding agencies, entrepreneurs, governmental / non-profit organizations and academic institutions.

**Intrigued? Here’s some more information about the position**:
Reporting to the Supervisor of Bio Industrial Services - Research and Development, the Intermediate Researcher will identify, pursue, and lead business development activities, prepare proposals for clients, design experiments and testing programs and actively perform and direct activities required for the execution of projects. The successful incumbent will develop proficiency in the operation and configuration of supporting equipment, and project execution for the respective service areas. Specialized equipment and facilities include battery electrode material preparatory equipment, cell assembly equipment, cell charge a discharge testing equipment, material characterization instrumentation, anaerobic glove boxes and electrical property characterization instrumentation and other associated supporting equipment.

The Intermediate Researcher will be accountable for, but not limited to, executing the following:

- Preparing electrodes
- Blending slurries
- Coating, compressing, and preparing electrodes for coin cell and pouch cell construction
- Building and testing coin cells and pouch cells to evaluate material performance
- Using a variety of equipment for assembling battery components
- Using semi-automated equipment for assembling batteries
- Organizing battery materials and associated material processing
- Measuring and recording in-process battery assembly related quality information
- Documenting cell building procedures
- Measuring properties of the material using equipment and techniques such as ion-adsorption capability, electrical resistivity, carbon and impurity analyses, morphological analyses, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) for capacity (capacitance) and recyclability
- Preparing samples for deployment to external labs and potential customers
- Assisting with the processing of materials and enhancement of materials using high temperature furnaces and various pieces of processing equipment.
- Building support internally and among industry, government and academic stakeholders for research projects and initiatives
- Conducting business development and engaging stakeholders for new projects & initiatives and ultimately identify, propose, and execute projects for clients while growing this burgeoning area at InnoTech
- Providing direction to technologists regarding operations, process improvements and equipment requirements
- Identifying and respond to the needs of clients, to lead the direction of work in this field, an