PhD Research Fellow in automated battery discharging and characterisation

About the position

A fixed-term 100% position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences as a PhD Research Fellow in Mechatronics, affiliated to the Department of Engineering Sciences, for a period of three years, or possibly four years with 25% teaching duties. The position is located at Campus Grimstad. 

The starting date is negotiable with the Faculty. The candidate will be associated to the ongoing HORIZON EUROPE research project RHINOCEROS (Batteries reuse and direct production of high performances cathodic and anodic materials and other raw materials from batteries recycling using low cost and environmentally friendly technologies). RHINOCEROS will demonstrate a smart sorting and dismantling robotic system at TRL 6, enabling the automation of a battery repurposing production line. When direct repurposing and reuse of batteries is not possible, RHINOCEROS will investigate several ground-breaking circular recycling routes aiming at the recovery of all the materials present in Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) (e.g., metals, graphite, fluorinated compounds, electrolytes, polymers, and active materials).

Responsibilities

Lead experiments for fast characterisation, testing, and controlled discharging of spent LIBs. Study and test physical properties of batteries for fast estimation of battery states and pre-selection for further treatment. Develop industrial-scale automation sequences for characterisation and discharging of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. Collaborate and expand network with industrial partners.

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, Renewable Energies, or a relevant subject area. This year’s candidates/candidates who are in the closing stages of their master’s degree can also apply. 
• Knowledge in:
  • Robotics – Robot Operating System (ROS)
  • Battery condition monitoring and assessment
  • Machine learning – supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning
• Ability to collaborate with and disseminate knowledge to regional industry.
• Documented ability for independent laboratory work.
• 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 Paper based Test (PBT), or 92 for the Internet-based Test (iBT)
• IELTS - International English Language Testing System, with the result of 6.5

A prerequisite for employment is that the candidate is to be admitted to UiA’s PhD programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Specialisation in Engineering Sciences within three months of appointment.

Further provisions relating to the positions as Post-doctoral 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.

Desired qualifications

Knowledge in:

• Actuation and control
• Smart Monitoring – Condition monitoring, fault diagnosis
• Computer Vision – 3D camera, point cloud
• Sensor technology
• Battery characterisation e.g., electrical impedance spectroscopy, battery cycling tests

Written and spoken Norwegian proficiency. If hired for four years, the research fellow is intended for teaching at bachelor’s level, where the teaching is mainly given in Norwegian.

Emphasis will be placed upon the project description and the relevance it has with regard to the subject in question and the research environment at the Faculty. 

Personal qualities

• Ability to work independently
• Close working relationships with both the industrial and academic partners 
• Analytical skills
• Good written and verbal communication skills in an academic setting.

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.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply for the position. 

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 the 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
• Research proposal for automated non-destructive characterisation (several methods can be proposed) and controlled discharging of spent Lithium-Ion batteries from electric vehicles (max. 2 pages) including reference list. The outline should present and discuss possible research questions, theory perspectives, material, and a progress plan.
• 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: 20.06.24.

Contact

For questions about the position: 

• Martin Choux, tel. +47 37 23 34 45, mobile +47 941 54 804, e-mail martin.choux@uia.no
• Bernhard Fäßler, tel. +47 37 23 34 90, mobile +47 411 00 618, e-mail bernhard.faessler@uia.no

For questions about the application process:

Senior HR Advisor Heidi Kristensen, tel. +47 38 14 13 79, e-mail heidi.kristensen@uia.no