Postdoctoral Researcher – battery materials development

The Battery Technology Department at IFE has a vacant Postdoctoral Researcher position in materials development. We are increasing our activity in research and development of materials for renewable energy where we collaborate closely with Norwegian and foreign industry partners as well as with internationally recognized academic partners. The position is for a three-year contract.

Renewable energy technologies and the battery market, especially, are growing fast. Both need new materials and innovation. Our Materials Development group in the Battery Technology Department is synthesizing and characterizing materials for energy, directly used in new lithium- and sodium-ion batteries or adjacent markets.

We are seeking a person who can strengthen this team, take part in the development of materials with smart functionalities such as self-healing and sensing and participate in research on future battery materials. This person would also work closely with the European Affairs Department to support communication, dissemination, and innovation activities related to battery materials research.

Work tasks

The main tasks will be to perform R&D in the field of new technology and materials for production of high-quality materials for energy applications, within the framework of national and international R&D projects. The Battery Technology Department at IFE has long standing experience within the synthesis of silicon-based materials for lithium-ion batteries, and continued development of these materials will be a substantial part of the work tasks. The postdoctoral researcher position will be part of a larger team developing silicon-based alloys as anode material for lithium-ion batteries and hard carbon materials for sodium-ion batteries.

Depending on the background of the candidate, the research scientist may be involved in the following activities at IFE:

• Synthesis of battery anode active materials, in particular silicon and silicon alloys from silane pyrolysis, and hard carbons from bio-based feedstocks
• Modifying and optimizing battery materials for example through coating, milling, spray drying, and other processing methods
• Characterization of silicon and hard carbon materials using electron microscopy, electrical methods, X-ray diffraction and scattering, particle size distribution analysis, and purity/trace element analysis
• Preparation of electrodes and laboratory scale battery coin and pouch cells
• Electrochemical characterization of anode material
• Publishing results in leading peer-reviewed journals
• Presenting recent work at internationally relevant conferences

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent academic degree in physics, chemistry, materials science, or similar field

• An experimentalist view: ability to plan and perform experiments, analyse results, summarize and conclude
• Experience working with secondary battery research is required
• High expertise in electrochemistry is preferred
• Publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Expertise within one or more of the following topics will be beneficial:
  o Synthesis and processing of nanomaterials
  o Understanding of battery materials, such as silicon or hard carbon-based materials
  o Advanced characterization of materials for energy
•  Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (the department’s working language is English)

Personal qualities

We are looking for a motivated person who has excellent problem-solving skills and who will be an active participant and collaborator in our group. You will have the chance to gain knowledge and skills that will support and extend the opportunities we have in our research groups. We pride ourselves in delivering technology needed by our partners and by society.

We offer

• Exciting and challenging research tasks
• Participation in the development of sustainable technology
• Participation in an internationally leading research team
• Social benefits including pension, life insurance and accident insurance
• Salary according to agreement
• Collaboration with highly motivated and creative people within a well-integrated and social research group

IFE is subject to the Security Act, which includes requirements for the organisation’s management of critical national information, as well as other relevant legislation concerning the management of sensitive information. On this basis, it is a prerequisite for employment that the applicant is suitable from a security perspective. Note that relevant applicants will be asked questions that are necessary to ascertain this. This includes questions about any ties to countries that the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) has classified as a ‘high-risk country’ in its open threat assessment. Background checks are performed as part of our recruitment process.

We view diversity as a strength in our work. We therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion and ethnic background. We place great emphasis on your personal suitability for the position.

Kontaktinformasjon

Hanne Flåten Andersen, Department Head Battery, 93623173
Carlos Escudero, Department Head EU, 98215448
Samson Yuxiu Lai, Senior Researcher & Group leader, 48009583

Nøkkelinformasjon:

Arbeidsgiver: Institutt for energiteknikk (IFE)

Referansenr.: 4894058076
Stillingsprosent: 100%
Temporary
Søknadsfrist: 15.01.2025

DIVERSE INFO

Kilde: NAV stillingsannonser
https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/stillinger/stilling/1ca9d4c8-dcab-4acc-8681-54fc47f01b6b
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