PhD position in digitalisation of Lithium-ion batteries for researchand development

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the job

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering has a vacancy for a PhD position with a research focus on digitalisation of Lithium-ion batteries for research and development. We have a vacancy for a PhD researcher at The Department of Energy and Process Engineering focusing on Lithium-ion battery digitalisation. The electrification of our society with renewable energy systems results in a discrepancy between energy production and demand due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. As a result, the area of Lithium-ion batteries is becoming increasingly important in reaching climate goals. Lithium-ion batteries are already playing a large role, as shown by the rapid increase in demand electrified transport globally.

Despite this, there are still significant research gaps in Lithium-ion battery technologies, and the experimental research is a limiting step in development of Lithium-ion battery technologies. Therefore, the digitalisation of a Lithium-ion battery will open opportunities for applying modelling-based approaches (e.g., electrochemical, electrical equivalent, physical and data-driven models) and machine learning to fast-track the development of Lithium-ion battery technologies. This approach will also allow the production of a digital twin of a Lithium-ion battery, which may allow further insight into the functional parameters of a Lithium ion battery.

The objective of this PhD project is to design and develop a digitalised Lithium-ion battery. This project will investigate whether modelling and machine learning approaches can be applied to Lithium-ion batteries to enhance the development of nano technologies and focusing our experimental research on computationally optimised theories and hypotheses. By developing a digital twin of a Lithium-ion battery, the process of testing theories and hypotheses can be performed faster than in the laboratory, reducing the time spent on theories and hypotheses that do not yield satisfactory results. Furthermore, it may be possible to integrate machine learning approaches to the digital twin to develop theories and hypotheses further with focus on improving specific parameters of the Lithium-ion battery technology (e.g., faster charging and discharging kinetics).

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

The prospective candidate will work in the Sustainable Energy Systems Research Group and the main supervisor of the PhD candidate will be Associate Professor Jacob J. Lamb.

You will report to the Head of the Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Terese Løvås

Duties of the position

• Conducting high-quality research
• Actively participate and present research results in group meetings and discussions
• Attend national and international conferences and present findings
• Taking a lead role in the writing and development of research articles
• Comply with the PhD training program at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering
• Establish close collaboration with the other PhD and Post-Doctoral researchers within the Sustainable Energy Systems research group
• Assist Bachelor, Master and other PhD researchers in their research
• Publish peer-reviewed journal articles

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background with a masters degree (or similar level) in simulation engineering, computational modelling, nano technology and electrochemical engineering (or similarly relevant backgrounds)
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented by the starting date of the position.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program.
• Experience and a strong interest in development of models of electrochemical systems
• Understanding of electrochemical energy storage systems

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Strong programming skills in Python and MATLAB
• Good understanding of electrochemistry, specifically Lithium-ion batteries (understanding of other electrochemical cells will also be considered)
• Experience with model development and optimization
• Experience with machine learning approaches
• The candidate will be encouraged to explore their own ideas and research questions related to the overall goals of the PhD project.
• Therefore, proactive problem-solving skills will be highly valued
• Good written and oral English and Norwegian language skills
• Experimental background is welcomed, but this must be supported by courses in specific programming

Personal characteristics

• Be scientifically curious and open to new research challenges
• Commitment and delivery with respect to deadlines (good time management)
• Be flexible and reliable, with the ability to work efficiently independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrate independence and persistence in addressing technical problems
• A strong interest in developing a low carbon emission energy sector

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is three years.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Engineering within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

In order for us to evaluate your application, it must must include the following:

• A cover letter stating the applicant's research interest and motivation for applying the position
• Full CV including relevant qualifications and certificates
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees in English. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted.
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• A project proposal and plan (Gantt diagram) outlining the research questions and approaches one would be interested in addressing during the PhD work (maximum of 2 pages)
• Name and contact information of three referees
• A publication list (if you have publications or other relevant research work) with description of the applicant's role

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, please attach this as well.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.

EPT has established EPT Women in Science. The group is focused on supporting female Research Assistants, PhD Candidates, Postdoctoral Fellows and permanent academic employees within the Department. This support aims to help develop the academic careers of female employees, and is also made visible to our student body, to encourage them to consider an academic path. As part of the EPT Women in Science initiative we continue to build on our international network, inviting prominent female academics within and beyond the field of Engineering to speak at our events.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Jacob Lamb on e-mail: jacob.j.lamb@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-consultant Renate Fjellheim on e-mail: renate.fjellheim@ntnu.no.

The city of Trondheim has a population of 200,000. It is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene and is known as the innovation capital of Norway. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is among the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available, as is children's education (including international schools). Trondheim has low crime rates and clean air quality and offers the possibility to enjoy nature, culture and family life.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 24th of November 2024