The University of Sydney is seeking applications for the position of Postdoctoral Research Associate in Electrochemical Engineering in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering. The appointee will work in the Electrochemical Engineering Lab under the supervision of Dr. Fengwang Li on research in electrochemical engineering for sustainable chemical processes and energy conversion.
This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for 1.5 years that is ideal for individuals with hands-on experience with electrolysers, fuel cells, electrochemical reactor design, process design, and scale-up. Application closing date: 11 October 2026.
Postdoctoral position at a glance
About the Postdoctoral position
The University of Sydney School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for their applied electrochemical engineering research program aimed at sustainable chemical synthesis and energy conversion.
This position entails more than just fundamental electrochemistry or material characterization. Rather, it is meant for the person who can translate electrochemical principles into real experimental setups. This involves designing and constructing devices, developing test platforms, assessing performance and durability, increasing the reliability of the system, and taking part in scaling up electrochemical systems.
The candidate will conduct work associated with the design and optimization of electrochemical cell/reactor prototypes. Depending on the requirements of the particular projects, this could entail conducting work related to water electrolysis, carbon dioxide electrolysis, fuel cell technology, electrochemical reactors, membranes, gas diffusion electrodes, or energy conversion systems.
Candidates with significant experience in electrolysers or fuel cells will be especially relevant for this position. Experience with large-area cells, cell stacks, prototype systems, process integration, and engineering design is desirable.
Key responsibilities for the postdoctoral position
The postdoctoral research associate shall assist in the development, testing, modification, and integration of electrochemical devices and associated process systems.
Duties include:
- Development and optimization of electrochemical cells and reactors.
- Selection and integration of electrodes, membranes, flow fields, sealing materials, and other electrochemical cell components.
- Design of electrochemical testing systems incorporating fluid handling equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
- Startup and operation of experimental setups for electrolyzers, fuel cells, or electrochemical technology in general.
- Electrochemical testing of performance, efficiency, stability, and durability.
- Identification of weaknesses and failure modes of electrochemical devices, and implementation of solutions based on scientific evidence.
- Application of chemical process engineering principles in development and experimental work with prototype systems.
- Calculation of material and energy balances, process flow diagrams, and piping and instrumentation diagrams.
- Scaling of electrochemical devices from laboratory-scale cells to larger devices, cell stacks, or prototypes.
- Solving practical engineering problems such as flow distribution, heat transfer, mass transfer, sealing, reproducibility, and stability.
- CAD modelling and drawing of electrochemical devices and associated equipment.
- Coordination of fabrication, procurement, assembly, and experimentation.
- Analysis of experimental results and keeping scientific documentation and technical data.
- Preparation of research papers, technical reports, and other project documentation, taking into account confidentiality and intellectual property considerations.
- Support for training of students, laboratory safety, risk assessment, and standard operating procedures.
Ideal candidate profile for the postdoctoral position
It is desirable that candidates possess, or be near completion of, a PhD in chemical engineering, electrochemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, chemistry, or a similarly relevant field.
The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in engineering and not just theoretical knowledge of electrochemistry. It is required that applicants can prove their contribution to the design, assembly, operation, debugging, and improvement of electrochemical devices or any other experimentally relevant systems.
Essential qualifications and experience for the postdoctoral position
Applicants should show the following qualities:
- A PhD degree or close to obtaining a PhD in engineering or sciences that are related to the field of interest.
- Experience working with electrolysers or fuel cells.
- Experience in assembling, running, and troubleshooting electrochemical systems.
- Knowledge of electrochemical systems performance testing and durability evaluation.
- Knowledge of electrochemical transport processes-mass transport, heat transport, flow of fluids, and ionic transport where applicable.
- Experience in designing electrochemical cells, reactors, and/or ancillary equipment.
- Electrode, membrane, flow fields, current collectors, gaskets, and sealing system selections.
- Ability to account for material compatibilities, manufacturing limitations, assembly processes, and reliability of electrochemical devices.
- CAD skills to develop technical models and engineering drawings.
- Ability to design chemical processes, which includes material and energy balances, process flow, and piping & instrumentation diagrams.
- Ability to conduct independent research activities such as planning of experiments, data analysis, troubleshooting engineering challenges, and record keeping.
- Effective communication skills, both written and oral.
- Engineering contributions relative to the stage of their career, which can include peer-reviewed papers, patents, technical reports, validated prototypes, or other engineering contributions.
- Commitment to laboratory safety and integrity in conducting research and handling sensitive information and intellectual property.
Desirable skills and experience
The following experience will be greatly appreciated in the selection process:
- Designing electrochemical devices from lab-scale cells to large-scale devices with active areas.
- Designing electrochemical multi-cell stacks or prototypes of systems.
- Working with MEAs, GDEs, or electrochemical cell fabrication techniques.
- Designing and developing electrolysers, fuel cells, electrocatalytic reactors, or other electrochemical energy conversion devices.
- Using computational fluid dynamics or multiphysics simulations to enhance the design of electrochemical devices.
- Familiarity with engineering simulation software such as COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS Fluent, or other software.
- Simulation and techno-economic evaluation using Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, or similar platforms.
- Automated testing and data acquisition system development.
- Experience with programming or automation with Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or other tools.
- Gas handling or liquid flow, pumping, mass flow control, pressure control, temperature control, gas analysis, or electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
- Preparing standard operating procedures, risk assessments, and engineering documentation for experiments.
Why this position is valuable
The postdoc position is especially suitable for individuals who seek an opportunity in the interplay between electrochemistry, reactor engineering, and chemical process design and technology.
While there are many posts for electrochemists that require primarily catalyst preparation, electrode fabrication, or characterization, this position requires skills related to the engineering involved in running an electrochemical process.
The ideal candidate would develop expertise in:
- Design of electrochemical devices and reactors.
- Testing and debugging of electrolyzers or fuel cells.
- Commissioning of experimental setups.
- Integration and design of supporting plants.
- Scale-up and design of stacks.
- Technical drawing and computer-aided design.
- Flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer control.
- Automation, instrumentation, and data acquisition.
- Technical documentation, publication, and research respecting intellectual property rights.
- Interdisciplinary approach in the fields of materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and sustainable energy.
This renders the position significant for students who wish to have career paths in the fields of hydrogen technology, electrolysis, green chemistry, carbon conversion, fuel cells, electrochemical processing, cleantech start-ups, industrial R&D, and research leadership in academia.
How to assess your fit for the postdoctoral research
The candidate should not merely enumerate electrochemical procedures or software programs on the CV but rather should illustrate the application of his/her expertise in solving an actual engineering or scientific problem.
For instance, a competitive candidate might be able to demonstrate the following:
- The electrolyser/fuel-cell type used in their work.
- The active electrode area and the number of cells in the experimental setup.
- Device components that were individually designed by them.
- Whether they had a part in integrating the membrane, electrodes, gas diffusion layers, flow field, or the sealing system.
- Performance characteristics that they studied, such as cell voltage, current density, Faradaic efficiency, energy efficiency, hydrogen production rate, or power density.
- Time period and conditions for durability testing.
- The problems in experiments that they solved, for example, leakage, flooding, drying, membrane deterioration, delamination of electrodes, corrosion, pressure instability, and flow field distribution.
- Enhancement of performance, stability, reproducibility, or safety of the system.
- Employment of software such as CAD, COMSOL, ANSYS Fluent, Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW for device design/testing.
Materials science applicants can benefit from highlighting how their work on electrodes or catalysts was implemented in an actual device, tested under practical circumstances, and analyzed for performance stability or scalability.
How to prepare a strong application for the postdoctoral position
A custom-made cover letter will be essential for this particular job. It is very crucial for applicants to demonstrate their capabilities of being able to help develop electrochemical systems right from the start of employment.
The following topics should be covered in your cover letter:
- PhD field and your research stage.
- Hands-on experience with electrolyzer, fuel cell, or electrochemical reactor.
- Hands-on experience in device assembly, commissioning, operation, and troubleshooting.
- Skills for designing experimental setups and generating CAD models or engineering drawings.
- Process engineering skills involving material and energy balances, process flow diagrams, P&ID, and equipment selection.
- Experience in electrochemical characterization, performance measurement, and durability assessment.
- Experience in scaling up large-area cells, cell stacks, or system integration, if any.
- Experience in process simulation, CFD, multiphysics, or automation, if any.
- Publications and other achievements, including technical reports, patents, prototyping, and industrial partnerships.
- Capability of working independently yet collaborating well with students, research staff, technicians, and external partners.
Application documents
Below is the list of materials to be prepared before applying:
- A customized cover letter.
- A comprehensive academic and technical CV.
- A list of publications.
- Appropriate documentation as required via the University of Sydney online application portal.
- Proof of completion or imminent completion of PhD, if necessary.
- Referee information as may be required during the application process.
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Applicants are also advised to study the position description provided officially before applying. It is important to make sure that the CV and the cover letter clearly show electrochemical device design, CAD abilities, experimental system design, and chemical process engineering.
Application deadline
Applications for the role of Postdoctoral Research Associate – Electrochemical Engineering at the University of Sydney will be accepted until 11 October 2026.
It is recommended that interested candidates apply via the University of Sydney online application portal. Those candidates requiring assistance or accommodations during the recruitment process can contact the recruitment team at [email protected].
Final thoughts on postdoctoral research Associate position
Postdoctoral Research Associate for Electrochemical Engineering at The University of Sydney is a great chance for those researchers who wish to pursue an academic career in the development of electrolysers, fuel cells, electrochemical reactors, sustainable chemical production, and energy conversion.
This position is perfect for candidates who have electrochemical expertise, along with good engineering skills. Candidates who are experienced in device fabrication, electrochemical characterization, process design, CAD, automation, reactor integration, and scaling will be preferred.
If you have experience in the development of real devices and prototypes based on electrochemical materials or principles, this is the right position for you.
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