Vacant job

Luleå University of Technology is experiencing rapid growth with world-leading expertise in several research areas. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national, and regional companies, the public sector, and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of just over SEK 2.3 billion. We have more than 1,800 employees and nearly 21,600 students.

The Division of Materials Science at Luleå University of Technology invites highly motivated candidates interested in conducting research in biobased battery materials and processing within the subject of Wood and Bionanocomposites. The research subject has ongoing research programs in energy storage-related nanomaterials, biomaterials, and composite materials. The division is part of the Department of Engineering Science and Mathematics. The department has several other research topics with activities bordering on battery technology and testing, such as Energy Engineering and Fluid and Experimental Mechanics. In the undergraduate program, the programs focusing on the international profile of the Division of Materials Science are essential for the department. Within these educational programs, many students undertake project work and degree projects related to our research.

Subject description

The subject area of wood and bionanocomposites involves the production of materials and composites based on renewable raw materials, for example from by-products of the forestry, food, and agricultural industries, as well as carbonized biomaterials. The focus of our research is the manufacturing and material development of these raw materials using processes such as electrospinning, extrusion, liquid composite molding, injection molding, and film formation for applications in electronics, energy storage, the automotive industry, packaging, and more.

Duties

The position is linked to the Bio4Energy and RECAT center at Luleå University of Technology. It focuses on the processing of biobased carbon materials and their testing for advanced battery-active materials for sustainable energy storage. The research targets the development and optimization of processing routes and understanding of structure-property relationships for active materials in current and next-generation batteries. The associate senior lecturer will work in close collaboration with RECAT's activities in active material processing, battery cell manufacturing, and cell development, and with academic and industrial partners in the Nordic battery ecosystem. The overall goal is to enable competitive and circular battery technologies through experimentally driven research combined with modelling, advanced characterization, and process optimization, contributing to the green transition and the European bio-based battery value chain.

Working as an Associate Senior Lecturer involves defining your daily research, teaching, supervision, and administration, aligning with the long-term goals defined in the RECAT center and the Wood and Bionanocomposites research group, and how they will be carried out. You will act and develop as a project manager, combined with your own development and involvement in other projects and teaching.

Qualifications

To meet the requirements for the appointment as associate senior lecturer, the applicant:

• must have been awarded a doctoral degree or must have a foreign degree considered equivalent to a doctoral degree.

Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctoral degree within five years of the application deadline for employment as an associate senior lecturer. However, someone who has been awarded a doctoral degree or achieved corresponding competence at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. Special grounds include sick leave, parental leave, or other similar circumstances.

Assessment criteria

The following assessment criteria apply to this position:

• scientific expertise
• other assessment criteria.

Other assessment criteria in descending order of importance:

• documented knowledge in the synthesis and processing of active carbon materials for energy storage
• experience in advanced material characterization for energy storage applications
• experience in processing of biobased carbon materials
• experience in battery materials, electrochemical characterization, testing, processing science, electron microscopy, and
• the ability to collaborate with the wider community
• the ability to communicate research and development work
• the ability to teach in Swedish and/or in English
• demonstrated a strong publication record in the subject.

Period of employment

For this employment, an employment period of four years applies.

Information

Salary according to local guidelines. The postdoctoral position is located in the Department of Engineering Science and Mathematics, specifically within the Department of Materials Science. The place of employment is Luleå.

For further information, please contact: Chair Professor Kristiina Oksman, mailto:[email protected]

This position may be subject to security clearance in accordance with the Swedish Security Protection Act (Säkerhetsskyddslagen 2018:585).

Union representatives:

SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037, mailto:[email protected]

OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721, mailto:[email protected]

Luleå University of Technology actively promotes gender equality and diversity, fostering a creative study and work environment. The university's values are based on respect, openness, cooperation, trust, and responsibility.

In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below, where you will attach a personal letter, a CV/curriculum vitae, a diploma, and a two-page research plan for novel battery materials design, processing, and production. We prefer that applicants follow the template at https://www.ltu.se/download/18.27fd965b18df224ef099841d/1710402295167/EngelskaAns%C3%B6kningsmall.pdf. Note that the applicant's educational qualifications should be particularly documented. Please mark your application with the reference number below. Applications and diplomas must be written in Swedish or English.