Postdoc Opportunity: Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead a flagship project on Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation. This role sits at the intersection of breakthrough fundamental science and industrial electrification, working jointly with the HJ Jiang Group (led by Dr. Haihui Joy Jiang; www.hjj-group.com) and the MMY Group (Prof. Thomas Maschmeyer, Prof. Tony Masters, and Dr. Alex Yuen; www.mmy-group.com.au).

About the Project

Funded by the Australian Research Council (Discovery Project 2026-2028), this position focuses on "turning air and water into nitrogenous chemicals"—developing a sustainable, electrified alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. You will design hybrid catalyst systems (heterogeneous and homogeneous), engineer innovative electrochemical reactors, and pioneer radical reactions at the air-water interface to unlock high-voltage reaction pathways.

Location: School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW, Australia

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a Flagship Project: Drive the design, execution, and optimization of plasma-electrochemistry systems, including reactor engineering and catalyst structural characterization.

• Advanced Mechanistic Study: Identify key reaction intermediates and establish rigorous structure-property correlations to understand catalytic pathways under high-voltage conditions.

• Systems Analysis: Perform energy efficiency calculations and scaling analysis to bridge the gap between lab-scale discovery and industrial application.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Assist in the supervision and career development of PhD and Honours students, fostering a collaborative laboratory culture.

• Strategic Communication: Lead the preparation of high-impact manuscripts, grant applications, and international conference presentations.

• Collaboration Management: Coordinate administrative and technical workflows between the Jiang and MMY groups and manage external academic collaborations.

  
  

About You

We are looking for a courageous and creative researcher who thrives on interdisciplinary challenges. The ideal candidate will possess:

• A PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related discipline.

• Deep Technical Expertise in electrocatalysis, materials characterization, and analytical chemistry (specifically chromatography and spectroscopy).

• Specialized Experience in electrochemical nitrogen fixation, radical-driven pathways, or air-gap/plasma electrochemistry. Strong preference for candidates with experience in organometallic and/or inorganic synthesis.

• Adaptability: A proven ability to master new, complex techniques such as high-voltage air-liquid interface reactions and plasma diagnostic tools.

• Operational Excellence: Strong skills in operating and maintaining sophisticated scientific instrumentation and managing laboratory safety/organization.

  
  

Benefits

• Full time, 2 years fixed term (with a possible extension to 3 years total)

• Opportunity to drive a high-impact research program on using catalytic air-gap electrochemistry for nitrogen fixation

• Academic level A: $117k– $126k (base salary) + 17% superannuation

  
  

How to Apply

Application closed on March 1st, 2026.

• We received >100 highly qualified applications to date.

• Only the top 5-10% will be invited to attend interviews, which will start in mid March.

• If you don't hear back by mid April, the position is likely filled by other candidates.

• Due to the large volume of applications that we receive, please do not send any follow-up email prior to interview; otherwise, your email may be considered spam and will be blocked by our server.

If you missed this application deadline or got shortlisted but were not successful this round, AND if you have >3 publications with IF>8 and received your PhD from a Top 100 University (ranked worldwide), feel free to loop back, as there will be other opportunities in the future.