PhD Research Fellow in towards battery digitalization: a continuum physics-based model development

About the position

A 100% position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as a Ph.D. research fellow in in towards battery digitalization: a continuum-scale physics-based model development affiliated to the Department of Engineering Sciences, for a period of three years. The position is located, at the present, at Campus Grimstad. 

This PhD is a part of the FME Battery center, which is a large national center gathering all research and industry partners in Norway who are focused on batteries.

Responsibilities

Advances in battery technology are driving innovation in industries such as transportation, healthcare, and telecommunications, making batteries a cornerstone of sustainable development and technological progress. Battery digitalization is critical for accelerating the advances in battery technology, as it enables more precise monitoring, control, and optimization of battery performance throughout its lifecycle. By incorporating digital tools such as algorithms, and simulation models, digitalization allows for the development of next-generation batteries by providing insights into complex internal processes, enabling manufacturers to innovate faster and adapt to growing demands in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and portable electronics. Continuum physics-based models provide a framework to simulate and predict complex electrochemical behaviors with high accuracy. By utilizing principles from thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and solid mechanics, these models enable a detailed understanding of processes such as charge transport, thermal management, and degradation phenomena within batteries. 

The successful candidate will aim to advance the digitalization of battery research in close collaboration with industries and partners within the FME battery center, developing frameworks for optimal cell performance across different cell chemistries, designs and alignment. This will be achieved through the development of a high-fidelity continuum physics-based modelling framework. The primary objective of the PhD project is to develop, parameterize and validate a continuum physics-based model and its implementation to understand the charge-discharge behavior of Lithium- and sodium-ion batteries. Secondary objectives include the application of the validated model to design and optimize the electrochemical performance of sodium ion batteries for a given application. These models will be validated with experimental data generated within the FME battery center and from state-of-the-art facilities in the Battery Coast group at the University of Agder         

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of the growing research activity in electrochemistry and sodium-ion batteries. The candidate should be self-motivated and enthusiastic as well as contributing to the future research directions of the battery activities. 

The position is connected to the subject area of the newly created UiA battery initiative which co-creates a competence hub for battery research and development in close exchange and collaboration with local industry partners in the south of Norway. 

A prerequisite for employment is that the candidate is to be admitted to UiA’s PhD programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences. 

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, physics, or material sciences, electrical engineering, mathematics, information technology or related field. This year’s candidates/candidates who will finish their master’s degree in the summer can also apply. 
• Experience with COMSOL, BATTMO and/or MATLAB or any other simulation software.
• Knowledge of electrochemistry.
• Written and spoken English proficiency. International candidates that are not exempt from the English language requirements pursuant to the guidelines of the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) must document this through one of the following tests with the stated results or better:
  • TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language with a minimum score of 600 for the Paperbased Test (PBT), or 92 for the Internet-based Test (iBT)
  • IELTS - International English Language Testing System, with the result of 6.5

Further provisions relating to the positions as PhD Research Fellows can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

This year’s candidates/candidates who are in the closing stages of their master’s degree can also apply.  

Desired qualifications

• Experience in cell design and testing of batteries.
• (Co-)Authorship of scientific publications / scientific presentations in the field of modelling and simulation of batteries.

Personal qualities

• Scientific curiosity for elucidating the bottlenecks of state-of-the-art battery materials and designs.
• Ability for scientifically rigorous, target-oriented, organized, and independent work.
• Good communication and teamwork skills, inventiveness and a proactive hands-on approach are essential qualifications. 
• Applicants are expected to contribute to a safe and inclusive working environment.

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised. 

We offer

• professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation 
• a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment 
• modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers 
• membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 532 200 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions. 

General information

UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions. 

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right. 

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically: 

• Certificates with grades
• Master’s thesis
• References
• Academic work and R&D projects, as well as a list of these
• An A4 poster of project description including reference list. The outline should present and discuss possible research questions, theory perspectives, material, a progress plan, and methods within the given framework
• Any other relevant documentation

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English. 

Application deadline: 01.12.24

Contact

For questions about the position:  

• Associate Professor Williams Agyei Appiah, tel. +47 37 23 33 11, e-mail williams.a.appiah@uia.no 

For questions about the application process:

• HR Advisor, Linda Heskestad Kristiansen, tel. +47 38 14 11 88, e-mail: linda.h.kristiansen@uia.no 

Creating knowledge together

When people who are committed come together to further knowledge, anything is possible.

The University of Agder combines the unique warmth and charm of Southern Norway with first-class scientific, technological and artistic expertise.

Would you like to work with us to create better solutions to our shared challenges?

University of Agder

The University of Agder has more than 1500 employees and almost 14 000 students, making us one of Southern Norway's largest workplaces. Our dedicated staff engage in research, teaching and dissemination across a diverse range of fields.

The university is located on two modern campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad.