Postdoctoral Fellow within the Field of Materials for Li-ion Battery Technology

About the position 

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (IMA) has a vacancy for a Postdoctoral Fellowship within the field of Li-ion battery technology within the framework of a national research program, SUMBAT.

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.  

SUMBAT is devoted to development of next generation Li-ion technology, and the consortium is composed of academic partners (SINTEF, IFE, UiO and NTNU), as well as partners from industry (material suppliers and battery manufacturers). Research activities relevant for the postdoctoral position will be focused around advanced characterization of battery materials and electrodes, including in-operando characterization techniques, and electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Industrially relevant silicon materials will be studied, as well as high-energy cathode materials, with the focus on solving the challenges related to stability of electrode-electrolyte interphases for the next generation of Li-ion battery materials.

Duties of the position

• Characterization of materials and laboratory scale battery cells using state-of-the art infrastructure at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• Focus on selected advanced characterization techniques like FIB-SEM, XPS, AFM, or APT
• Presentation of results at project meetings and national and international workshops and conferences
• Preparation of scientific papers
• Participate actively in collaborative efforts within the SUMBAT project group

The candidate is expected to participate actively in the battery community at NTNU and at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, including mentoring and co-supervision of PhD and master students.

Travelling with respect to conferences, meetings, workshops may be expected as part of the position.

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree related to Materials Science or Chemistry, or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree is required. 
• Experience related to electrochemical testing techniques
• Ability to publish scientific papers
• Good written and oral English skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D Candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate.

Preferred selection criteria

• Good knowledge of Li-ion battery technology
• Experience (hands on) with basic fabrication and electrochemical characterization techniques relevant for battery research
• Hands on experience with one or more advanced characterization techniques (like SEM, FIB-SEM, XPS, AFM)

Personal characteristics

• The candidate should have a strong ability to work independently, should be enthusiastic and goal oriented
• The candidate should have good communication skills, as well as collaborative skills

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer 

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 563 500 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

The period of employment is 2 years and 6 monthsss.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants , and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.  

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application 

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.  

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. 

The application must include:

• A cover letter
• CV including list of publications and information pertaining to the given qualifications
• Certificate of completed PhD degree
• The required documentation of English language proficiency
• Names and contact information of three references

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here . If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. 

General information 

Working at NTNU 

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.  

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Dr Maria Valeria Blanco, email [email protected] , or Professor Ann Mari Svensson, [email protected] o.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI) .

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number NVD-290/22 when applying.

Application deadline: 01.10.2022

NTNU

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering  

We are Norway's leading educational and research environment in materials engineering, materials chemistry and materials science.  In collaboration with business and industry, we are a driving force for the development of innovative materials as well as new applications and manufacturing processes.  Activities in our disciplines are vital for the green shift. The Department of Materials Science and Engineering  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences .

Deadline 1st October 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Fixed Term
Place of service