Lily Robertson explores new solutions to world energy challenges as a Chemist in Argonne’s Chemical Sciences and Engineering (CSE) Division. Specializing in organic, materials, and battery chemistry, she also assists in outreach to support STEM-curious students in their own scientific journeys.

When she was younger, Lily was an imaginative and creative child who was never bored, always coming up with new ways to occupy her mind. While not initially interested in science, she eventually became fascinated with chemistry due to an amazing and encouraging high school teacher. ​“I wanted to be just like her, and she was the one who really got me excited about chemistry,” Lily recalls.

When Lily started her undergraduate studies, she knew her major from the get-go: chemistry. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics. She then completed a Ph.D. in Chemistry with an emphasis in Materials at the University of Oregon.

Lily’s Ph.D. mentor was very helpful and encouraged her to conduct further research after her Ph.D. to advance her learning and skills as she continues on an academic-government track for her future career. She worked as a postdoc (post-Ph.D. researcher) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before coming to Argonne in September 2019.

At Argonne, Lily continues research she started at the University of Illinois in collaboration with the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) to develop liquid flow batteries. These scalable batteries can help collect and store excess energy that would otherwise go to waste for future use, and she believes the technology will be crucial in addressing energy and environmental issues.

Lily is optimistic about her current research into light-emitting molecules to track the crossover of materials in the batteries. By tracking the crossover, scientists can better understand the decay process and create longer-lasting batteries. ​“I believe that this battery technology is vital for the future success of our civilization and the planet,” she says.

As part of the JCESR research effort, Lily has enjoyed working with the multidisciplinary team, which has proved to be very collaborative and outgoing. She likes having the opportunity to brainstorm new ideas with others, as each individual scientist has their own unique insights. ​“Everyone has a different piece of the puzzle,” she explains. ​“It’s really nice to see how everything fits together.”

Likewise, Lily appreciates Argonne’s welcoming culture, with the Lab’s sense of shared responsibility and desire for everyone to get along. She also likes the Lab’s positive work-life balance and has fun participating as an active member of Argonne’s chorus group. In her spare time, Lily practices many other hobbies, including hiking, reading, knitting, bicycling, and art.

Due to her positive experiences with life-changing mentors, and because she wishes she had the opportunity to learn about STEM disciplines like engineering earlier, Lily strongly supports educational outreach to young students, particularly girls, as it allows them to experience things they might not otherwise get in high school. ​“I think especially introducing girls in middle school and high school to topics like engineering is important for improving the gender equality of those fields,” she says.

While at the University of Illinois, Lily regularly helped with an annual science day camp for girls. Though she has not been at Argonne for long, she has already participated in the 2020 Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. She hopes to stay involved with that annual event and many other outreach activities at the Lab in the future. ​“Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet and ask your parents and teachers to learn more about science,” Lily advises students. ​“Don’t be afraid to go to events and speak up about what you think is really cool, and pursue your passions.”