Slurry & Coating Scientist Intern

Who You Are

Are you enthusiastic about solving research problems that make a difference in the world? Are you a thoughtful, creative, diligent, and curious researcher? Are you excited at the prospect of helping to build the next generation of battery materials and technologies? Sila is seeking a scientist to contribute to the improvement of commercially built high-energy Li-ion batteries through an in-depth understanding of interacting anode components (e.g. active materials, binders, conductive additives). As part of a collaborative effort, your work will help to elucidate the underlying structure-property relationships of anode component materials and their impact on electrochemical performance.

Responsibilities and Duties  

• Spend a minimum of 6 months (preferably 9 months) onsite at Sila, beginning in January or February 2024 (no later than March), to work exclusively on the assigned project
• Work closely with a scientist for technical aspects and also with a larger cross-company team of diverse backgrounds to discover and communicate knowledge for the long term development of our next generation battery materials
• Hands-on slurry and coating recipe development, and characterization of the slurries and coatings
• Help build and operationalize new approaches, instrumentation, and analytics pertaining to slurry and coating
• Investigate the roles of active materials, binder, and conductive additives on the performance of  Li-ion batteries
• Discover, understand and explain the fundamentals involved in the relationships between electrode components and cell performance
• Identify safety hazards and work cooperatively to implement improvements
• Invest in our values and champion them as we grow

Knowledge and Skill Requirements 

• BSc (or preferably MSc currently enrolled in a PhD program) or equivalent research experience with a focus in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field
• Ability to clearly communicate technical findings to diverse audiences
• Experience in collaborative problem solving: share knowledge, ideas, resources, and strategies in order to solve challenging scientific problems
• Experience in electrochemical processes pertaining to Li-ion batteries or related interdisciplinary applications is a strong plus

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and safety toe shoes
• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection when needed
• Use a glove box and/or fume hood to prepare samples
• Operate analytical equipment at a lab bench
• Move items up to 25 lbs with the assistance of lift equipment and carts
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc. in a fixed location

The starting base pay for this role is between $45/hr and $50/hr at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, and equity.  The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. This role may also be eligible for overtime.