Research Assistant/Associate in Li-ion Battery Characterisation and Sorting

Salary:

Research Assistant: £29,619 to £31,411 per annum

Research Associate: £32,348 to £34,308 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 04 April 2023

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity available to become  a central member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional collaborative team working the field of Li-ion battery recycling as part of the ReLiB project (funded by the Faraday Institution).

The ReLiB project is about to embark upon a two-year extension which will see it run through at least as far as March 2025 wherein we will be building on the exciting achievements of the last five years. 

The primary focus of this role will be on the measurement and characterisation of end of life, automotive scale li-ion batteries building knowledge libraries and models to enable data-driven recycling decisions based on AI technologies. 

Working across multiple disciplines and institutions and in collaboration with our industrial partners this is a unique opportunity to contribute to the leading li-ion battery recycling research expertise in the UK.  

You should be qualified to PhD level in an area with a strong bias towards Li-ion battery technology grounded by a good degree in a supporting subject area. Experience of recognised battery measurement and characterisation techniques is essential. The candidate should also show they have a strong understanding in battery related electronics systems such as battery management systems (BMS) or battery chargers.

For more information about the School of Engineering, and our research, please click here.

The Electrical Power Research Group is the UK’s largest research group in Electrical Power. Through our state-of-the-art research laboratory facilities, our activities are highly cross-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary. We work closely with industry to deliver research that is innovative and relevant. For more information about the Electrical Power Research group, please click here.

We are committed to building and maintaining a fair and inclusive working environment and we would be happy to discuss arrangements for flexible and/or blended working. Additionally, the post is eligible for blended working between campus and home.

The appointment is offered on a full-time basis (37 hours per week) and is fixed-term, tenable until March 2025 in the first instance and is available immediately. 

To apply, please complete an online application and upload a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter is a supporting statement, and you should outline how you meet the essential criteria of the role and evidence this with examples.

For informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr. Simon Lambert, Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, at Simon.Lambert@newcastle.ac.uk. 

Key Accountabilities

• Coordination of disassembly and characterisation of large, automotive battery systems
• Measurement and modelling of large battery systems at pack, module and cell scale using a combination of recognised electrochemical techniques
• The use of machine learning algorithms to aid in the development of data driven decision making tools
• Responsibility for generating and undertaking standard operating procedures for de-manufacturing of automotive scale battery packs (including at high voltage) and the inherent safety considerations.
• Coordinating, writing, and presenting of research reports and academic papers for publication in appropriate journals
• Strategic leadership of the battery characterisation and sorting research element of a large project

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Knowledge of:
  • use and characterisation of lithium ion batteries
  • recognised electrochemical testing techniques for energy storage systems
  • battery management systems 
  • the battery recycling industry 
• Skilled in:
  • measurement and characterisation of electrochemical energy storage systems 
  • model development of li ion batteries 
  • use of relevant lab-based equipment such as potentiostats and frequency response analysers 
  • use of large scale (10s kW) test equipment for battery cycling 
  • Interrogation of battery management systems 
• Experience of:
  • large-scale li-ion batteries (preferably automotive) 
  • working with high voltage batteries (50v > V > 1200V)
  • battery logistics & transport 

Desirable

• Experience of managing a complex project, or multiple projects, as a work package leader, researcher co-investigator or effectively as principal investigator 
• Strong track record in journal publications which evidence work of international significance
• Ability to prepare funding bids and proposals to support new research/business opportunities
• Advanced skills in the research aspects of li-ion batteries

Attributes and Behaviour

• Supporting other researchers in a team environment, supporting a wider research group with interpreting data, managing competing priorities and developing research skills 
• High level of analytical and problem-solving capacity
• Evidence of development of effective working relationships and exhibiting strong networking skills to support collaboration
• Commitment to instilling equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of your work, with a commitment to dignity and respect in the workplace 
• Demonstrable experience of working in a multidisciplinary team environment and actively supporting the development of a collaborative research culture 
• Communicates complex information clearly and adapts communication styles to suit the audience  

Desirable

• Ability to provide leadership to research teams and the potential to mentor junior research colleagues 
• Experience of supervising undergraduate and postgraduate student projects
• The ability to develop key client relationships and industrial links to support collaboration on research projects 
• The ability to work autonomously 

Qualifications

• PhD awarded or in corrections phase in an area of research within energy systems, particularly relating to li-ion battery technology
• Good underpinning degree in relevant field of science or engineering

Desirable

• Evidence of Continued Professional Development (CPD)
   

Newcastle is an inclusive global University community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.

The University holds a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. The University is also a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 25178