Assistant Professor in Wood and Bio-nanocomposites with a focus on bio-based battery materials, their manufacturing, and characterization

Luleå University of Technology is experiencing strong 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, public sector actors, and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of just over 2.3 billion Swedish kronor. We have more than 1,800 employees and nearly 21,600 students.

The Department of Materials Science at Luleå University of Technology is seeking a highly motivated researcher with an interest in research on bio-based battery materials and their processing within the field of wood and bio-nanocomposites. The research group is currently conducting research programs in energy storage, nanomaterials, biomaterials, and composite materials. The department is part of the School of Engineering and Mathematics, where several research areas are closely linked to battery technology and battery testing, such as energy engineering, fluid mechanics, and experimental mechanics. Within the educational programs, the internationally renowned programs in materials science are central to the department, particularly the Master of Science program in International Materials Engineering (EEIGM). Within these programs, many students carry out project work and thesis projects related to our research.

Course Description

The subject of wood and bionanocomposites encompasses the production of materials and composites based on renewable raw materials, such as by-products from the forestry, food, and agricultural industries, as well as carbonized biomaterials. The research focuses on the manufacturing and material development of these raw materials through processes such as electrospinning, extrusion, composite manufacturing, injection molding, and film formation for applications in electronics, energy storage, the automotive industry, packaging, and other areas.

Job Description

The position is affiliated with Bio4Energy and RECAT at Luleå University of Technology. The focus is on the processing of bio-based carbon materials and their evaluation as advanced battery active materials for sustainable energy storage. The research encompasses the development and optimization of process routes as well as an understanding of the relationship between structure and properties of active materials for current and next-generation batteries.

The Assistant Professor will work closely with RECAT’s activities in the processing of active materials, battery cell manufacturing, and cell development, as well as in collaboration with academic and industrial partners within the Nordic battery ecosystem. The overall goal is to enable competitive and circular battery technologies through experimentally driven research combined with modeling, advanced material characterization, and process optimization. The work contributes to the green transition and the development of the European value chain for bio-based batteries.

As an Assistant Professor, you are expected to independently plan and carry out research, teaching, supervision, and administrative tasks in line with the long-term goals of RECAT and the Wood and Bio-nanocomposites research group. The role also includes project management, developing your own research activities, and participating in other research projects and educational initiatives.

Qualifications

To be eligible for employment as an assistant professor, the applicant must:

• hold a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree.

Preference will be given to candidates who have earned a doctoral degree no more than five years prior to the application deadline. Candidates who earned their doctoral degree earlier may also be considered if there are special circumstances. Special reasons include, for example, illness, parental leave, or other similar circumstances.

Evaluation Criteria

The following evaluation criteria apply to the appointment:

• scientific competence
• other evaluation criteria

Other evaluation criteria, ranked by importance:

• documented knowledge in the synthesis and production of active carbon materials for energy storage
• experience in advanced material characterization for energy storage
• experience with bio-based carbon materials in electronic applications
• experience with battery materials, electrochemical characterization, testing, process engineering, and electron microscopy
• a proven track record of strong scientific publications in the subject area
• good collaboration skills and the ability to engage with the surrounding community
• the ability to communicate research and development results
• ability to teach in Swedish and/or English
• postdoctoral experience in a relevant research area is an asset.

Term of employment

The position is limited to four years.

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

An assistant senior lecturer shall, upon application, be promoted to senior lecturer and granted permanent employment if he or she is qualified for such a position and, upon review, is deemed suitable according to the assessment criteria applicable to senior lecturers.

Promotion requires that the assistant senior lecturer has completed higher education pedagogy training equivalent to at least 7.5 higher education credits or has otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge.

During the term of employment, the assistant senior lecturer must also contribute independently, to a significant extent, and with high quality to the university’s research, as well as demonstrate good teaching skills.

All information about the position can be found here: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I003/583/main?site=5&validator=68a0c61034f021baa4299701b2dc5325&lang=SE&rmpage=job&rmjob=10355&utm_medium=talentech_publishing&utm_source=jobtip_editor