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• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work.

The School of Chemistry teaches more than 2000 undergraduate students each year from many different faculties and offers four different undergraduate programs leading to majors in chemistry that are taught in five teaching laboratories specialising in First Year, Synthetic, Analytical and Physical Chemistry.

This role contributes to the development of novel catalysts and electrolytes for alcohol electrochemical conversion. The Postdoctoral Fellow is also responsible for synthesising, prototyping, and scaled-up demonstration along with assessing key metrics of efficiency and durability and relating these metrics to product performance and life cycle cost and developing relevant experiments under schedule constraints.

About the role

• $113K - $121K plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• Fixed Term – 12 months
• Full-time (35 hours per week)

The role reports to Professor Chuan Zhao and Dr Quentin Meyer and has no direct reports.

Specific responsibilities for this role include:

• Contribute independently or as a team member in collaborative research with a focus to enhance the quality of research outcomes in the discipline area.
• Conduct research (as per the norms of the discipline) and/or enable research teams to create scholarly output that is recognised by peers.
• Undertake specific research projects under the guidance of a research leader and contribute to development of research activities.
• Support the dissemination of research outcomes through appropriate channels and outlets.
• Prepare and maintain experimental materials, equipment and data.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Prototype electrochemical devices based on research results.
• Undertake additional research responsibilities within the field of expertise.
• Actively apply for external grants and fellowships with support from supervisor.
• Assist with lab management including instrument maintenance, trouble shooting and contacting service providers when required.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.

About the successful applicant
(Selection Criteria)

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Materials Science.
• Demonstrated prior research experience in electrocatalysis for electrochemical conversion (CRR, OER, HER, ORR).
• Demonstrated expertise in material synthesis and material characterization. Prior experience in DFT calculation is preferred but not compulsory.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting a research project (including experiment design, data collection, and record keeping) and coordinating the efforts of a large multidisciplinary team including industry partners.
• Demonstrated ability to complete projects in a timely manner and submit reports.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake high quality academic research and conduct independent research with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated track record of publications in high-impact journals and conference presentations relative to opportunity.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines and build effective relationships.
• Evidence of highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with a diverse range of stakeholders and students.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

You should systematically address the selection criteria listed above in your application.

Please apply online - applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed.

Contact:
Chuan Zhao
E: chuan.zhao@unsw.edu.au

Applications close: July 30^th, 2025

Find out more about working at UNSW at www.unsw.edu.au

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.