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Group Leader: Catalysis

Argonne National Laboratory · Lemont, IL · $148,125–$231,075 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

How do you build collaborations with industry, academia and other national labs that lead to funding?

What they are checking: Whether they can grow a high-profile program through partnerships, as the posting expects.

How do you balance leading a group with running your own active research?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage both leadership duties and hands-on science.

Describe how you have mentored early-career scientists.

What they are checking: Whether they develop people, which keeps a research group strong over time.

What would you do

What research vision would you set for the Catalysis group, and how would you get the group behind it?

What they are checking: Whether they can define group goals and strategies that staff will commit to.

How would you handle a group member whose research is not moving forward?

What they are checking: Whether they can coach and support staff while keeping the group's program strong.

How do you decide which funding opportunities to pursue from DOE and other sponsors?

What they are checking: Whether they pursue funding that fits the group's strategy instead of chasing everything.

How would you raise the group's profile in the national and international catalysis community?

What they are checking: Whether they have a plan for visibility through publications, conferences and partnerships.

About the work

Tell me about the catalytic research you are best known for and how it advanced understanding of reaction mechanisms.

What they are checking: Whether they have a strong research record in homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis.

How do you connect a catalyst's structure and properties to its performance in a reaction?

What they are checking: Whether they think deeply about structure-function relationships, which the posting stresses.

How would you use Argonne facilities like the Advanced Photon Source to study catalysts under working conditions?

What they are checking: Whether they can take advantage of unique lab capabilities for in situ and operando studies.

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The full job description

As published by Argonne National Laboratory.

The Chemical Sciences & Engineering Division is seeking qualified candidates for Group Leader of the Catalysis research group. As a group leader, the role provides scientific leadership and direction to members of the catalysis staff by defining group research goals, strategies for achieving these goals, and then implementing these strategies in order to maintain a high-profile research program as viewed by the national and international catalysis research community. As research scientist, the role will initiate and conduct basic research in the areas of homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysis focused on the discovery of new catalytic materials and processes. Materials development will focus on elucidating the chemical and physical properties (physical, structural, thermodynamic, etc.) of new catalytic materials and how these properties influence catalytic performance by providing insight into reaction mechanisms and pathways that generates fundamental knowledge that is applicable to the mission of the DOE, other sponsors, and Argonne. The Catalysis Group Leader: • Plans, initiates, directs and conducts high-quality creative and innovative catalytic research through inter-divisional collaborations and with varied corporate/industrial entities, academia, and other National Laboratories • Accepts major responsibility for leading a high-profile catalysis program including the securing new project funding through the timely completion of research/project objectives within the established budgetary and available staff resources • Contributes seminal knowledge to specific chemistry fields or disciplines through innovative research and publication thereof • Develops new ideas, concepts, and/or research proposals to create programmatic growth for the Division • Organizes or participates in national and international scientific symposia as a contributor and in scientific/technical society activities as an organizer and/or a participant • Maintains cognizance of worldwide progress in pertinent fields and/or discipline in which incumbent and his subordinates are working Position Requirements • Ph.D. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, along with 15+ years of experience beyond a postdoctoral position, demonstrating a strong track record in both fundamental and applied catalysis • Knowledge in homogenous and/or heterogenous catalysis; mechanistic and kinetic studies; advanced characterization (e.g. X-ray adsorption spectroscopy); synthesis, structure and reactivity of isolated active sites, including surface organometallic catalysts; novel reaction processes • Publication record and peer recognition in the fields of catalysis and organometallic chemistry as indicated by invitations to major international conferences and specialized workshops • Considerable experience in directing and leading large research programs consisting of multiple investigators in the areas of homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysis, with responsibility for programmatic development and growth • Demonstrated skill in formulating scientific problems and in the design and conduct of experiments • Considerable skill in understanding abstract concepts and in synthesizing knowledge • Oral, written, and presentation skills • Ability to work collaboratively with varied internal and external contacts (corporate, university, and other National Laboratories) to achieve high level goals • Leadership skills and the ability to mentor subordinate researchers • Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork Job Family Research Development (RD) Job Profile Chemistry Leader 1 Worker Type Regular Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $148,125.00 - $231,075.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package. Click here to view Argonne employee benefits! As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

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