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Description
This is
NTNU NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education.
The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.
At NTNU, 8,6000 employees and 44,000 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 position The Department of Structural Engineering has two vacancies for PhD candidates within testing and modelling of lithium-ion batteries for mechanical abuse and sensor-informed lifetime estimation and state of safety analysis funded in part by the Department of Structural Engineering (KT) and the Department of Energy and Process Technology (EPT) at
NTNU via the joint project
BATT-MECH.
The positions are linked to both the research group SIMLab (Structural Impact Laboratory) at KT and the Battery Mechanics and Sensing Lab at EPT.
For a position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a doctoral education leading to a doctoral degree About
BATT-MECH BATT-MECH is a research project funded by
NTNU through the Department of Structural Engineering and the Department of Energy and Process Engineering.
The project is carried out in close collaboration with Audi AG, a major European automotive manufacturer, ensuring that the research addresses challenges that are directly relevant to the development of next-generation battery systems.
Lithium-ion batteries play an ever increasingly important role in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and many other essential technologies.
As their use continues to grow, improving their safety, reliability, and lifetime is becoming increasingly important.
Batt-Mech brings together researchers from SIMLab and EPT to improve our understanding of how batteries behave during normal operation and under mechanical abuse.
The project combines laboratory experiments, advanced measurement methods, and numerical modelling to study coupled mechanical-electrochemical behaviour of lithium-ion batteries.
The research covers three main topics with known interlinks: swelling and ageing during normal operation, internal short circuits caused by impact or crushing, and the modelling of thermal runaway.
The knowledge gained will be used to develop predictive simulation tools that support the design of safer battery cells, modules, and battery packs for the automotive industry and beyond.
Two PhD positions are available within the project.
One focuses on swelling, ageing, and safety of prismatic and cylindrical battery cells through experiments and modelling, while the other investigates internal short circuits during mechanical abuse using crash testing protocols and finite element simulations.
PhD Position 1: Testing and modelling of lithium-ion batteries under abuse scenarios We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join a project focused on understanding how internal short circuits develop in lithium-ion battery cells during mechanical abuse.
The work will investigate how impact and crushing loads initiate internal failure mechanisms, combining advanced experimental testing with high-fidelity numerical modelling.
As a PhD candidate, you will: • Perform mechanical abuse experiments on lithium-ion battery cells using NTNU’s dedicated battery testing facilities.
• Characterize internal failure mechanisms using advanced measurement and imaging techniques.
• Develop and validate finite element models to predict internal short circuits under crash-relevant loading conditions.
• Combine experimental observations and numerical simulations to improve the prediction of battery safety in automotive applications.
This project offers the opportunity to work closely with researchers in experimental and computational mechanics, while collaborating with a major European automotive manufacturer on challenges of direct industrial relevance.
Your immediate leader is David Morin at the Department of Structural Engineering at
NTNU.
Proposed starting date: February 1, 2027. PhD Position 2: Efficient diagnostic approaches to identify electrolyte salt inhomogeneities in lithium-ion batteries and adequate assessment of its effects We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join a project focused on understanding how diagnostic approaches such as fiber optic battery sensing can be used to identify and assess electrolyte motion induced salt inhomogeneity (EMSI) in lithium-ion battery cells.
The work will employ novel sensing strategies bridging electrochemical and mechanical evolutions investigate how
EMSI can be identified and possibly mitigated, changing the cell’s degradation prospects.
Extension of these results into the dimensions of state of health and state of safety will be valorized in accordance with expertise and partner priorities.
As a PhD candidate, you will: • Cycle instrumented lithium-ion batteries using NTNU’s dedicated battery testing facilities.
• Characterize
EMSI degradation phenomena using combined mechanical and electrochemical analysis.
• Develop protocols and routines suitable for the rapid and efficient assessment of cells experiencing
EMSI.
• Combine experimental observations and theoretical frameworks to improve the prediction of battery reliability and safety in automotive applications.
This project offers the opportunity to work closely with researchers in experimental mechanics and electrochemical energy storage, while collaborating with a major European automotive manufacturer on challenges of direct industrial relevance.
Your immediate leader is Steven Boles at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering at
NTNU Proposed starting date: February 1, 2027. Duties of the position • Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate • Conduct and publish high-level research in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.
• Participate and contribute to activities in the
BATT-MECH project • Disseminate relevant parts of the research to a wider audience.
Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.
Required selection criteria For PhD position 1: • You must have a professionally relevant background in solid mechanics, structural engineering, mechanical engineering or similar fields.
For PhD position 2: • You must have an academically relevant background, preferably with previous research work pertaining to electrochemical energy storage devices.
Candidates with excellent knowledge and preparation in nanotechnology, electronic engineering, or solid state physics are also encouraged to apply..
• Documented dissemination of research work (thesis or peer-review publication) pertaining to
EMSI phenomena in lithium-ion batteries as lead or co-author • Experience with programming using Python and Fortran • Experience with conducting experimental work and data analysis pertaining to electrochemical energy storage devices For both PhD positions: • 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.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the doctoral program from the Faculty of Engineering • You must be fluent in spoken and written English.
PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.
The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.
The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.
Preferred selection criteria For PhD position 1: Preferred selection criteria • Knowledge of plasticity theory.
• Knowledge of constitutive modelling of materials.
• Knowledge of non-linear finite element methods.
• Knowledge of Lithium-ion batteries • Experience using non-linear finite element software, e.g.,
LSDYNA.
• Experience with programming using Python and Fortran.
• Experience with conducting experimental work and data analysis.
For PhD position 2: Preferred selection criteria • Industrial experience with electrochemical energy storage devices • Experience with real-time sensing of electrochemical energy storage devices • Experience with precision mechanical measurements using optical or photonic methods • Demonstrated ability to thrive in a competitive academic environment Personal characteristics To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are: • Highly motivated.
• Able to work independently.
• Curious and enthusiastic.
• Strong ability to systematically carry out goal-oriented work.
• Enjoy and contribute to interdisciplinary research.
• Keen interest in learning and working in teams.
• Good skills to deliver oral and written presentation of research results.
• Strong interest in combining theory and practice through experimental and numerical research.
• Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.
Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.
We offer • Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment • A collaborative project between academia and industry • An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues • Excellent research infrastructure for experiments and modelling • Mentor programme as a new employee at
NTNU • Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK) • Salary and conditions according to NTNU’s PhD regulations As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.
Diversity Diversity is a strength, and at
NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills.
Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful.
We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.
We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.
If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.
At
NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions.
We have a number of measures to promote equality.
Salary and conditions In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority.
A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.
The employment period is 3 years.
For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.
As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.
For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.
The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles o
Requirements
The positions require a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in experimental and computational mechanics, electrochemical energy storage, or a related field.
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Position Info
- Category
- fulltime
- Region
- asia-pacific
- Location
- 挪威 · Trondheim
- Salary
- 面议