Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Overview

This position is bugeted for $5,720.00 per month and is non-negotiable.

SDSURF invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, affiliated with the Caili and Daniel Chang Center for Electrical Drive Transportation.

This is a full-time, overtime-exempt academic appointment designed for individuals holding a doctoral degree (or equivalent). The position offers a defined term of mentored advanced training, aimed at enhancing the fellow’s professional development, research capabilities, and academic independence. This role is research-focused and not part of a clinical training program.

The successful candidate will work under the guidance of an SDSU faculty member and contribute to cutting-edge research in the following areas:

• Energy Storage Systems

• Battery Management Systems (BMS)

• Energy Management Systems (EMS)

This is an excellent opportunity to advance your career while engaging in impactful research in sustainable and electric transportation technologies.

Responsibilities

Research & Technical Leadership 70%

• Lead and execute advanced research projects sponsored by government agencies and industry partners.
• Conduct cutting-edge research in the following areas:
• Power electronics
• Wireless charging systems
• Energy storage systems
• Electric bicycle (eBike) drive systems
• Energy management systems
• Perform on-site research and experimentation at sponsor locations as needed.

Project & Proposal Management 10%

• Prepare detailed project reports and present findings to sponsors.
• Write and submit research proposals to funding agencies for new projects.
• Develop technical progress reports documenting milestones and deliverables.

Publications & Intellectual Property 5%

• Author high-impact journal and conference papers based on research findings.
• Prepare patent applications for inventions developed during research.
• Review and edit technical papers and reports, including those authored by graduate students.

Presentations & Conferences 5%

• Create and deliver presentations to communicate research outcomes to stakeholders and academic audiences.
• Represent the research team at technical conferences and industry events.

Mentorship & Training 5%

• Supervise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students involved in research projects.
• Provide training sessions to students and sponsor engineers on technical subjects and research methodologies.

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

Qualifications

Knowledge & Abilities

• Deep knowledge in a specific research area.
• Proficiency in qualitative, quantitative, experimental, or computational techniques.
• Experience in applying for research funding.
• Skilled in analyzing and interpreting data (e.g., using MATLAB, R, Python).
• Ability to write papers and reports for peer-reviewed journals.
• Understanding of ethical guidelines in research.
• Capable of planning and executing complex projects.
• Effective in team-based, interdisciplinary work.
• Strong oral and written presentation skills.
• Experience mentoring students or junior researchers.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Creative and analytical thinking for research challenges.
• Flexibility in adjusting research direction as needed.
• Knowledge of energy storage systems and electric drivesCoding experience.
• Math and optimization skills.
• Excellent publication history, written and oral skills.
• Experience in supervision of graduate/undergraduate students

Minimum Education & Experience

• A doctoral degree in an appropriate field

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Thorough knowledge in power electronics & battery management
• Ability to lead, motivate and supervise graduate and undergraduate students
• Interact effectively with students, sponsors, and other participants
• Understand and follow posted work rules and procedures

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.