Research Associate - Electrochemical Energy Conversion

Description:

The Bazylak group in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) is looking to fill a Research Associate position immediately. The group carries out research in the areas of fuel cells, water electrolysis, carbon dioxide electrolysis, and fundamental transport in porous media.

The Research Associate will work directly under the supervision of Prof. Aimy Bazylak to perform research and execute scientific coordination of projects related to clean electrochemical energy conversion and fundamental transport in porous media.

Duties:

• Design electrochemical and mechanical engineering experiments related to fuel cells and electrolyzers and their materials.
• Execute electrochemical testing, materials fabrication, material surface treatments, and material characterization to advance fuel cells and electrolyzers.
• Supervise students, postdoctoral fellows, and research associates and coordinate their research activities within research streams.
• Laboratory management, overseeing the operation and maintenance and safety of all equipment and spaces, purchases, and supplies management.
• Execute the research vision with Prof. Bazylak to achieve publication goals and knowledge dissemination.
• Oversee the operation of a dynamic R&D group through tracking and monitoring research activities, maintaining project records for multiple research projects, and coordinating day-to-day project activities.
• Writing grant and funding applications including verifying the accuracy and completeness of financial elements in grant submissions, and drafting commercialization plans.
• Liaising and developing communication plans with various stakeholders to foster and maintain research collaborations.
• Preparing technical reports and presentations for partners and funders.
• Conducting systematic literature reviews, narrative crafting, writing, editing and proofreading manuscripts, and analyzing research results.
• Managing revision and resubmission process, compiling and managing a list of scientific reviewers and academic journal editors, and ensuring materials that conform to specific editorial styles and accommodate target audiences.
• Drafting reports related to publications such as editorial and tracking research impact including submission counts, year-over-year analyses, acceptance rates, lag time, and citation counts.
• Editing and coaching presentations for lab personnel, and delivering presentations at conferences.
• Assist in the financial reporting to granting agencies and internal to UofT.
• Updating and maintaining curriculum vitae.
• Researching and writing nominations for various awards.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. and research experience required in engineering or sciences.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in an academic setting, publishing academic manuscripts and knowledge of scientific journal guidelines.
• Experience in the review of scientific articles submitted to well-known academic journals.
• Experience drafting and developing grants, and other applications for research funding.
• Excellence in project management and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience with supervising and managing teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Able to work within a team structure and effectively communicate with colleagues at all levels.
• Ability to create documents and reports for a wide variety of audiences.
• Strong technical and analytical skills with an understanding of engineering concepts and methodologies.
• Ability to identify opportunities for research and collaboration with industrial and academic partners.
• Demonstrated success in writing and preparing manuscripts, presentations, reports, briefs, and scientific abstracts and manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and work environment.
• Demonstrated laboratory proficiency.
• Well-developed interpersonal, communication and analytical skills.
• Ability to exercise tact and judgement in dealing with industrial, academic and other collaborative partners.
• Demonstrated initiative and technical ability.
• Detail-oriented.
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.

Asset:

• Past experiences in electrochemical energy conversion and material discovery are considered assets.
• Electrochemical cell testing an asset.
• Electrochemical cell performance characterization an asset.
• Mechanical engineering designs skills and CAD drawing are assets.
• Knowledge of electrochemical clean energy technologies, including fuel cells and electrolyzers, is an asset.

Closing Date: 01/30/2025, 11:59 PM ET

Employee Group: Research Associate

Appointment Type: Grant - Term

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 - Research Associates (Limited Term): $52,574 - $98,576

Job Category: Engineering / Technical