Research Scientist II

Overview

Georgia Tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation. We strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values, as outlined in our strategic plan. These values include academic excellence, diversity of thought and experience, inquiry and innovation, collaboration and community, and ethical behavior and stewardship. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.

About Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.

2. We strive for excellence.

3. We thrive on diversity.

4. We celebrate collaboration.

5. We champion innovation.

6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.

7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.

8. We act ethically.

9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Atlanta, GA

The School of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) has 42 academic faculty, 30 research faculty and post-docs, approximately 100 visiting scholars and Tech Temps, and 27 administrative and technical staff. The School is housed in five buildings and continues to diversify and expand the academic and research programs. To learn more about MSE, visit: www.mse.gatech.edu

The Liu Group is seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to join our interdisciplinary research team and contribute to cutting-edge discoveries in advanced materials for solid oxide electrochemical cells used in hydrogen production and high-efficiency electricity generation. This position offers an exciting opportunity to address critical challenges in sustainable energy by developing next-generation materials that enable clean, efficient, and durable electrochemical energy conversion.

The successful candidate will conduct frontier research spanning materials synthesis, single cell fabrication, advanced characterization, electrochemical testing, and fundamental studies of structure property relationships. Working in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, the Research Scientist will engage with postdoctoral researchers, visiting scholars, graduate students, undergraduate students, and external collaborators to translate fundamental scientific insights into transformative energy technologies.

The position will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with advanced facilities for materials synthesis, electrochemical measurements, and in situ and operando characterization. In addition, researchers have access to GT's outstanding Materials Characterization Facility, providing a comprehensive suite of world-class instrumentation for electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, surface analysis, and nanoscale characterization. These exceptional research resources create an ideal environment for pursuing innovative, high-impact research at the forefront of materials science and clean energy.

Conduct fundamental and applied research on the design, synthesis, processing, and characterization of electrolyte and electrode materials for reversible solid oxide cells.

Contribute to sponsored research projects by planning and executing research tasks, achieving project milestones, analyzing and interpreting experimental results, and preparing technical progress reports, presentations, and competitive research proposals.

Collaborate closely with postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and other laboratory personnel to foster a productive and inclusive research environment. Assist in mentoring junior researchers, maintain laboratory safety in accordance with institutional policies, and

Perform routine maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment to ensure reliable operation and support ongoing research activities.

A Master's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics or related, and three (3) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, or

A Master's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related, and five (5) ears of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree, or

A Doctoral degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related.

Preferred candidates will have experience in combinations of the following areas:

Experience in the synthesis, processing, fabrication, and characterization of advanced materials and solid oxide electrochemical cells.

Hands-on experience with structural, chemical, and microstructural characterization of solid materials, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Experience with the operation, maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of general materials characterization and laboratory equipment.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.

Strong self-motivation, intellectual independence, critical thinking, and quantitative data analysis skills, with excellent written and oral communication abilities.

Complete CV-including list of publications

One-page research interest statement

List of three professional references

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

The appointment period is from December 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027.

A successful candidate must be able to pass a background check. Please visit: https://usg.policystat.com/policy/19298143/latest