PhD position: Cell-scale modelling for high-throughput screening

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral training network “PREDICTOR" is made up of 22 partners. The network will recruit a total of 17 doctoral candidates for project work lasting for 36 months.

School: School of Engineering
Starting date: 1. April 2025 or earlier

Your role

The goal of the announced doctoral thesis is to develop cell scale models of redox flow batteries. This includes a macroscopic thermodynamically consistent membrane model for integration into cell-scale models and experimental model parameterization. Interaction with other doctoral students will be important, e.g. to incorporate homogenised porous electrode models into the continuum-scale modelling framework. The doctoral thesis will also focus on developing an industrial application for the redox flow battery models.

Your profile

• In accordance with the European Union's funding rules for doctoral networks, applicants must NOT yet have a PhD
• The applicant must not have resided or carried out her/ his main activity (work, studies etc.) in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the past 3 years.
• Excellent master's degree in computational science, physics, mathematics, engineering, or a related discipline
• Familiarity with mathematical modelling and numerical methods for ordinary and partial differential equations
• Experience in modelling and simulation of physical- and/or chemical- processes based on thermodynamics
• Strong interest in working in a cross-disciplinary, collaborative project at the interface of electrochemistry and mathematical modelling
• Experience in at least one programming language for scientific computing (C/C++, Matlab, Wolfram Language (Mathematica), Python, Julia, ...)
• Good communication skills and willingness to work in collaborative projects with multiple partners and present results at conferences, project meetings and partners
• Very good English language skills (German is beneficial)
• Self-motivation and the ability to achieve goals independently as well as to contribute effectively to the team

This is what we stand for

Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW is one of Switzerland's largest multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences, with over 14'000 students and 3'400 faculty and staff.
ZHAW is committed to gender-mixed and diverse teams in order to promote equality, diversity and innovation.
As one of the leading Engineering Faculties in Switzerland, the ZHAW School of Engineering emphasises topics which will be relevant in the future. Our 14 institutes and centres guarantee superior-quality education, research and development with an emphasis on the areas of energy, mobility, information and health.
At the Institute of Computational Physics (ICP), physicists, mathematicians and engineers work on applying methods and results from basic research to industrial problems. For more than 20 years, the ICP has been developing multiphysics computer models for industrial applications (e.g. in the field of hydrogen technology, photovoltaics or coupled-physics modelling). Together with its partners from science and industry, the ICP develops solutions in applied research and development.

What you can expect

We offer working conditions and terms of employment commensurate with higher education institutions and actively promote personal development for staff in leadership and non-leadership positions. A detailed description of advantages and benefits can be found at Working at the ZHAW. The main points are listed below:

• Workplace Culture
• Work Life Balance
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Personal Development
• Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability at the ZHAW
• Ocupational Health Management
• Salary and Pension Provision

Contact

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schumacher
Team Leader Electrochemical Flow Cells and Energy Systems
juergen.schumacher@zhaw.ch

Jocelyn Schaad
Recruiting Manager
jocelyn.schaad@zhaw.ch