Research Officer in Materials Discovery and Process

Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada's largest research and technology organization.

You will be working in a team environment with researchers and technical experts in world-class facilities. This work will involve you playing a leading role in the design, development, and orchestration of self-driving laboratories (material acceleration platforms) at Energy Mining and Environment Mississauga (EME-M). This role will be highly collaborative, leading a project involving a multi-disciplinary team of mechatronics, design and automation engineers, electrochemists, process engineers, and AI/ML experts to realize self-driving laboratories towards new material discoveries.

In this role, you will be responsible for all aspects of the self-driving laboratory, including:

- the conception and direction of the experimental workflow,
- benchtop-to-automation/high throughput experimentation development as it relates to synthesis, characterization, and performance measurements,
- development of the data handling and post-processing automation workflow,
- working with AI/ML experts for optimization algorithm development and associated experts for integration into the experimental workflow.

You will have an active role in the development of the roadmap for future material exploration. This role will also require you to consider how the self-driving laboratory fits into the larger scope of the EME-M vision of accelerated materials discovery and process optimization.

Being in a dynamic position means that the workdays are always evolving, challenging and motivating. This role will require you to stretch yourself beyond traditional experimental and/or laboratory roles. You are a self-starter who can excel in an evolving and exciting R&D environment and provide input into the direction and priorities of R&D activities that will be set forth by this new initiative in Mississauga. If you are that person and the concept of pushing laboratory experimentation towards a new paradigm, proposal and research direction development, and the development of relationships with research collaborators excites you, then this may be the perfect role for you

**Screening Criteria**:
**Education**:
PhD in Materials Science/Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a similar domain

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

**Experience**:

- Experience with concepts of laboratory automation and/or hands-on experience working with automated equipment.
- Recent experience in leading research projects involving a multidisciplinary team. Experience working in an agile environment would be considered an asset.
- Significant experience in the preparation of scientific publications and new research proposals.
- Experience with robotics and mechatronics woud be an asset.
- Recent experience in the materials domain of battery and/or other energy storage materials (eg. supercapacitors), with recent experience regarding the synthesis, characterization, and performance testing of these materials.

**OR**
- Recent experience in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy, with a focus in extraction and purification.

**Condition of Employment**:
Reliability Status

**Language Requirements**:
English

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

**Assessment Criteria**:
**Technical Competencies**:

- Knowledge of data science (statistics and quality control) as it relates to experimental data.
- and ability to automate data storage, curation, and post-processing of experimental results.
- Ability to manage research projects and stakeholder relationships.
- Ability to conduct battery materials research (inorganic-oxide materials), including their synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical performance evaluation.

**OR**
- Knowledge of hydrometallurgical processing pertaining to battery materials (eg. Li, Ni, Co, Fe, and Mn).

**Behavioural Competencies**:

- Research - Communication (Level 3)
- Research - Initiative (Level 2)
- Research - Results orientation (Level 2)
- Research - Self-knowing and self-development (Level 2)
- Research - Teamwork (Level 2)

**Competency Profile(s)**:
**Relocation**:
Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.

**Compensation**:
The intent of this hiring action is to staff this position at the **AsRO or AcRO **level, which is an early-mid-career level position with a salary range of **$74,230 to $123,393**.

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including comprehensive health and dental plans, pension and insurance plans, vacation and other leave entitlements.

**Notes**:

- A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one year period.
- This position is being advertised internally and externally simultaneously, however, first consideration will be given to internal NRC applican