Search UK Energy Storage jobs!

The Role              We are seeking outstanding candidates to work on the development, processing and understanding of smart electrodes for Li ion batteries. The research forms part of the large multi-institution collaborative project funded on Next Generation Electrodes (NEXTRODE) funded by the Faraday Institution. The successful candidate will be part of team developing new manufacturing approaches for smart, higher performing Li ion battery electrodes, for example involving graded, layered and 3D additive manufacturing of microstructures. You will use both standardised and bespoke processing equipment housed in the group to manufacture electrodes, study the electrochemical behaviour, and analyse the structure of electrodes using 2D and 3D characterisation techniques, seeking to understand the inter-relationships between materials, microstructure, manufacture and performance. You will work with other experts on particle processing, electrochemical performance modelling, simulation-based structural optimisation and machine learning from across the consortium. Using this understanding, you will take a design-led approach to improved electrodes and always have a consideration for cost-effective manufacturing processes that can scale beyond the research environment, ultimately to UK industry. The post will be up to four years subject to the availability and renewal of external funding. The post will be based in the Department of Materials at the Begbroke Science Park site, 5 miles north of Oxford.   The Person With a background in materials science, materials processing or related engineering or physical sciences discipline you will be self-motivated, imaginative and able to plan and deliver a research project. You will have a PhD (or be near completion) in one of the above disciplines and have experience that is centred on experimental, hands on manufacture related to battery fabrication.   The Project Three posts are available funded by research grant “Next Generation Electrodes (Nextrode)” that is provided by the Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development, to an Oxford-led group of collaborating universities. (faraday.ac.uk). The posts will start as soon as possible.   The overall aim of the Nextrode project is to seize the emergent opportunity in the manufacture of smart electrodes by investigating: (i) the underlying reasons why current Li ion battery electrode performance in practice falls well short of theory, (ii) novel approaches to electrode design that can overcome these restrictions, and (iii) how these designs can be realized at a scale and cost that makes them attractive to industry. Across the Nextrode consortium, the research involves elements of design, modelling, manufacture, characterisation and data science.   Nextrode is led by Professor Patrick Grant in the Department of Materials at Oxford University, and alongside researchers from the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford, involves close collaboration with leading researchers from the universities of Birmingham, Sheffield, Southampton, Warwick and University College London. The university research is supported by a core group of six strategic industrial partners, together with a group of additional industrial supporters.     Benefits 38 days holidays including Bank Holidays, subsidised travel scheme, excellent pension scheme, comprehensive childcare service (including departmentally sponsored priority places for a limited number of Materials staff), flexible working.   How to Apply All applications must be made online using the Oxford University E-Recruitment system, no later than 12 noon on Friday 29 November 2019. You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application .  Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.   Next Steps Interviews are scheduled to take place at the Department of Materials on 11 and 13th December 2019 and you must be available on this date, either by Skype or in person. Please note in normal circumstances only interview travel expenses within the UK will be reimbursed.