Vacant job

Job Description

The next leap in battery development is expected to be lithium solid-state batteries (SSB). This concept enables the flammable organic electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries to be replaced by a safer and more compact solid electrolyte. Within the framework of the Swedish state battery initiative COMPEL, which aims to support competence and excellence in battery research and education for the transport sector, KTH is launching a coordinated initiative on composite-SSB with seven postdoctoral positions from several disciplines focusing on different aspects along the battery value chain, from synthesis and cell manufacturing to characterization, modeling, and scaled production. The two-year postdoctoral project: Scalable production of solid-state batteries through precision manufacturing will be conducted at the Instruction for Production Development ITM. The project offers the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research at the intersection of precision manufacturing and metrology, production technology and digital production, applied to solid-state batteries. The goal is to investigate how high manufacturing precision can reduce process variations, reduce process-induced defects, and increase robustness in the manufacturing process, and how variations arise and propagate through the entire production chain, from production equipment performance and component machining to cell assembly, as well as how these can be characterized, quantified, and controlled. A central goal is to develop measurement-based methods that describe the relationship between manufacturing precision, process capability, and product quality. Precision metrology and integrated quality control will be used to identify critical process parameters, analyze sources of error, and establish manufacturing tolerances that enable robust production. Advanced measurement and non-destructive testing methods, including optical and laser-based measurement technology, industrial computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonic technology, will be used to monitor process stability and identify defects at various stages of the manufacturing process. The collected measurement data can be combined with process models and digital engineering tools to support tolerance analysis, process analysis, and continuous improvement. The expected results of the project are new methods for reducing manufacturing variations, improving process capability, and enabling reliable industrial scaling of solid-state battery production.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A completed PhD degree or a foreign degree assessed as equivalent to a PhD in systems engineering, mechanical engineering, production technology, or a related field, with experience in manufacturing technology, precision manufacturing, or industrial measurement technology. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than at the time the employment decision is made.
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English, as it is required in daily work.
• Strong theoretical and practical skills.
• Awareness of diversity and equal treatment issues with a particular focus on gender equality.

Merits

• At the final application date, no more than three years have passed since the PhD degree or a foreign degree assessed as equivalent to a PhD was awarded.
• Experience with solid-state batteries and good knowledge of battery manufacturing.
• Practical experience in precision manufacturing, measurement technology, and quality control.
• Demonstrate innovative thinking, creativity, and the ability to work independently.
• Good teamwork skills and the ability and interest to work in a team.

We will place great emphasis on personal qualities.

Join KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research, and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in driving and contributing to the transition to a sustainable society. Here you are offered the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic workplace with good working conditions and benefits. Gender equality, diversity, and equal opportunities are a quality issue and a clear part of KTH's values as a university and a public authority.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work and develop at KTH.

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Application

You apply via KTH's recruitment system. As an applicant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring your application is complete when submitted.

The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copies of degree certificates and transcripts from previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents are not issued in a Western European language.
• A concise statement of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests, and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Max 1 page.
• Contact details for references or recommendation letters

The application must be received by KTH no later than midnight on the final application date, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the Position

The employment is permanent, but for a maximum of two years.

A postdoctoral position is a time-limited qualifying appointment with a main focus on research, intended as a first career step after the PhD.

Other

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