Job Description

The research projects of Prof. Yingwen Cheng’s Group focuses on developing new chemical principles to explain and control electrochemical processes for inter conversion of electrical and chemical energy. Outcomes of our work contribute to electricity-driven chemical manufacturing and storage of renewable electricity for transportation and smart power grid. We are especially interested in studying well-defined materials with systematically tunable variables to extract fundamental insights. Major topics for the near future include: 1) solid active motifs design for electrocatalytic conversion of small molecules; 2) new electrochemical interfaces for extreme batteries; 3) new ways to modulate electrochemical processes via external forces and 4) synthesis of novel nanostructures with predictable functions.

• The ideal postdoctoral research associate candidate will work on assigned research projects as well as mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
• The postdoctoral research associate candidate must be knowledgeable and experienced in electrochemistry, analytical chemistry and materials chemistry.
• Responsible for presenting and reporting research results and publishing scientific results in peer reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health and quality program requirements.
• Maintain strong commitment to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Must have successfully defended and submitted dissertation by hire date, Ph.D. in chemistry or closely related field.
• Experience:
• An excellent track record of productive and creative research demonstrated by publications in peer reviewed journals.
• The postdoctoral candidate must have strong verbal and writing skills. The candidate must be willing to work independently and collaboratively with group members, and preferably also with experimental collaborators. The candidate must also be willing to mentor the graduate students in the group from time to time.
• Motivated and safety conscious.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Ability to set priorities, multi-task and adapt to ever changing needs with the proven ability to function well in a fast-paced environment.

Work Location

• Knoxville, TN, on site

Compensation and Benefits

• Anticipated hiring range: $60,000.00
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

Please complete the on-line application (https://hr.utk.edu/staff-positions) for full consideration. For best consideration, provide the following in the application file before October 20, 2026:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Transcript
• List of at least three references (with current e-mail address and phone number/s) in the application file. One reference must be your current supervisor.

A review of all applications will begin immediately.

About The Department

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville is the flagship educational institution in the State of Tennessee, and the Department of Chemistry is its oldest PhD granting Department. We offer a long-standing tradition of excellence in chemical research and education, stretching from 1947, when the department granted the University’s first PhD degree, to the present. We have people from diverse cultures providing an international business environment. The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of outdoor and cultural activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains; and a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a statistical area population of over 850,000 people. The Knoxville region houses many leading corporations, including Bush Brothers & Company, Discovery Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!