Postdoctoral Fellow in Sustainable Cement and Concrete Materials

The UCLA Institute for Carbon Management is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow in Sustainable Cement and Concrete Materials. This role involves conducting research on low-carbon technologies, focusing on CO₂ mineralization and concrete durability. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in a related field, strong knowledge of cement chemistry, and experience in laboratory research. The position requires collaboration with diverse teams and publication of research findings.
Employer Description

The Institute for Carbon Management (ICM) is a cross-campus technology-translation entity at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). ICM translates pioneering carbon management solutions from the (laboratory) bench-scale to pre-commercial/commercial-scale devices, prototypes, and (software) solutions. ICM's activities span two major focus areas:

(1) Technologies for carbon dioxide removal (from the atmosphere), utilization, and avoidance, and

(2) Technologies for creating new supply chains, and processing approaches for critical materials and elements (e.g., Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Mo) that are foundational to accelerating the clean energy transition, as well as reducing the carbon footprint of extractive processes. ICM is organized into action teams that are convergent, agile, and world-class. Prominently, these action teams have enabled ICM-born technologies to be awarded the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, and the 2021 Liveability Challenge, among others. ICM's technologies are now being commercialized via spin-out companies including CarbonBuilt Inc., Concrete-AI Inc., and Equatic.

Role Description

ICM invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the field of sustainable cement and concrete materials. This position is part of a multidisciplinary research effort aimed at advancing low-carbon technologies and improving the durability and performance of concrete systems. The successful candidate will conduct cutting-edge research with a particular focus on CO₂ mineralization in concrete, concrete durability, mineral dissolution and analytical modeling. The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and collaborate effectively with a diverse team to develop innovative strategies for enhancing carbon sequestration in concrete and extending the service life of concrete infrastructure. Questions about the position and application should be sent to Emma Liao (emmaliao@seas.ucla.edu).

Responsibilities
• Conduct independent research on topics related to cement chemistry, concrete technologies, and mineral dissolution.
• Analyze experimental data using a variety of in-lab analytical techniques, including XRD, XRF, BET, PSD, TGA, FTIR, and ICP.
• Apply strong work ethics and demonstrate the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including scientists, engineers, and industry partners.
• Prepare and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences.

Required Qualifications
• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, (Geo)Chemistry, or a related field.
• Strong foundational knowledge of cement chemistry and concrete technologies.
• Familiarity with CO₂ mineralization processes in concrete systems.
• Hands-on experience conducting mineral dissolution experiments.
• Working knowledge of thermodynamic modeling software such as GEMS.
• Experience performing standard concrete tests.
• Demonstrated experience in laboratory-based research.
• A strong record of scholarly publications.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to write research articles, technical reports, and present findings effectively.

Please send your resume, cover letter, and three references contact to Emma Liao (emmaliao@seas.ucla.edu). We will only be checking candidates who send all these required information.
• UCLA Postdoc Benefits Plan: https://www.postdoc.ucla.edu/resources/appointment-information/postdoctoral-scholar-health-benefits/

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $64,480.00 - $74,569.00 per year

Benefits:
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:
• 8 hour shift

Ability to Commute:
• Los Angeles, CA 90095 (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:
• Los Angeles, CA 90095: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person