Doctoral Researcher (PhD student), High-nickel Cathode Materials and Degradation Mechanism of Lithium-ion Batteries

The Department of Technical Physics at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position (in Ni-rich cathode materials and working mechanisms in lithium-ion batteries) on the Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled for a 3-year term from 1 February 2025 onwards (or as agreed).

Please find more information below and submit your application by 2 December 2024.

Role and salary

We are seeking a motivated Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) to join a PhD project which will involve comprehensive research aimed at understanding the performance and working mechanisms of Ni-rich cathodes in lithium-ion batteries, including both liquid and solid-state batteries.

Developing advanced lithium-ion batteries with high energy density and safety is crucial for the future of electric transportation. This PhD project primarily focuses on synthesizing and optimizing Ni-rich cathode materials, while evaluating their electrochemical, structural and interfacial properties in lithium-ion and/or solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

The work will involve conducting electrochemical measurements under specified conditions, combined with employing advanced characterization techniques to investigate their structural and interfacial evolutions during electrochemical cycling. This PhD work seeks to improve the stability of Ni-rich cathodes and elucidate the fundamental relationships between material properties and electrochemical performance, contributing to the development of safer and high energy density batteries for the next generation of energy storage systems.

As our new Doctoral Researcher (PhD student), you are expected to perform high-quality research and disseminate results through publications and presentations at conferences. Collaboration with colleagues within the university as well as with industry partners and other research partners is anticipated. Your responsibilities will include material synthesis, comprehensive characterization, electrochemical measurements, and evaluation of structural and interfacial properties within batteries.

The main task of the Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) is to conduct research for their dissertation and to complete postgraduate studies.

The position will be filled for a 3-year term from 1 February 2024 onwards (or as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to the Doctoral Researcher’s own doctoral dissertation work and studies. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. In this position, the job-related salary element is EUR 2,225.83 – 2,775.28 /month, based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element can be a minimum of 6% and a maximum of 50% of the above-mentioned sum. In the post of Doctoral Researcher, the salary is determined based on the stage of doctoral research and doctoral studies, as well as on personal performance.

Our requirements and expectations

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a discipline such as Chemistry, Physics, Material Science and Engineering, Electrochemistry, or another relevant field
• The Doctoral Researcher must be eligible to apply for and must have been granted the right to pursue postgraduate studies in the Faculty’s Doctoral Programme LUMETO 
• A good command of written and spoken English
• Proficiency in high-quality academic writing
• Ability to work independently as well as within a research team, with strong collaborative skills
• Strong analytical skills, including experience with data analysis tools and techniques.

Expectations

• Previous research experience in lithium-ion or solid-state batteries
• Experience in surface modification, interfacial characterization, and materials testing
• Familiarity with advanced characterization methods such as synchrotron-based X-ray probes, electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Your benefits

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including
• the opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• extensive occupational health care
• a broad selection of staff training
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services
• affordable sports services and a tax-free bike benefit

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting, meaningful and diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

How to apply?

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 2 December 2024 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2).

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application

• a CV (Template for a CV, TENK web site)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland Web site)
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas
• a motivation letter (max. 1 page)
• other documents to demonstrate the applicant’s merits for the position

If your degree certificate is not in English, Finnish, or Swedish, you must provide official English translations of your degree certificate documents. All translations must be issued either by the awarding educational institution or an authorized translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator's stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by applicants themselves will not be accepted.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Associate Professor Haidong Liu, email: haidong.liu@uef.fi, tel. +46 18 471 3737.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Noora Hämäläinen, e-mail: noora.hamalainen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4458302 or HR Specialist Iiris Korhonen, e-mail: iiris.korhonen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4458161.

Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa (tohtoriopiskelija) Itä-Suomen yliopiston luonnontieteiden, metsätieteiden ja tekniikan tiedekuntaan teknillisen fysiikan laitokselle. Tehtävä sijoittuu Kuopion kampukselle ja alkaa 1.2.2025 (tai sopimuksen mukaan) ja se täytetään kolmen vuoden määräajaksi. Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasoilla 2-4. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6-50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 2.12.2024.

The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology operates on the Kuopio and Joensuu campuses of the University of Eastern Finland. The mission of the faculty is to carry out internationally recognised scientific research and to offer research-education in the fields of natural sciences, forestry and technology. The faculty invests in all of the strategic research areas of the university. The faculty’s environments for research and learning are international, modern and multidisciplinary. The faculty has approximately 2,650 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and some 440 postgraduate students. The number of staff amounts to 650.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.