Postdoctoral scholarship (2 years) within inorganic materials with a focus on energy applications

Postdoctoral scholarship (2 years) within inorganic materials with a
focus on energy applications

The Department of Chemistry at Umeå University is looking for a postdoctoral fellow with a strong background in inorganic materials science with a focus on energy applications. The fellowship is full-time for two years with access from 1 August 2025 or by agreement.  Last day to apply is 28 February, 2025.

Departmental specific information 

The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and Technology at Umeå University, and has about 200 employees, of which about 40 are research students and a strong and expanding research. Three major research areas, Biological Chemistry, Environmental and Biogeochemistry, and Industrial Chemistry, bring together the Department's research and education in chemistry. We are also a strong partner within KBC, the Chemical-Biological Center at Umeå University.

Project description  

The project focuses on the development of new inorganic materials for use as electrodes in sodium-ion batteries and other energy storage devices. Particular emphasis will be placed on synthesis and research into binary and ternary transition metal oxides, with the design and development of next-generation electrode materials with enhanced properties for improved performance in energy storage applications being a priority. The successful candidate will work in a collaborative and dynamic research environment, contributing to the conceptualization, design, and execution of independent research projects while also engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations with other team members. The aim of this project is to advance the fundamental understanding of metal oxide electrode materials for use in sodium-ion batteries, and to develop novel materials with improved properties for energy storage applications.

The scholarship is for two years and is funded by the Kempe Foundation. The scholarship amount is 360 000 SEK per year and is tax-free.

Qualifications  

Required qualifications:

To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.

Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree before that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.

Doctoral degree should be within the field of inorganic chemistry, materials engineering, materials chemistry, chemical engineering or equivalent.

Additional requirements are:

• Prior experience in inorganic materials synthesis and characterization, with a focus on energy device applications.
• Experience in characterizing the electrochemical properties and performance of energy storage devices, such as batteries.
• Proficiency in a range of analytical techniques for materials characterization.
• Deep understanding of sodium-ion battery assembly and testing processes

Meriting criteria are:

Skills in computational modeling of inorganic materials to complement experimental work are considered additional merits. A documented ability to conduct research and present findings in writing through scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals is essential. The ideal candidate should have a desire to conduct research in a multidisciplinary project within a collaborative environment that brings together people with diverse skills. We are looking for candidates who are highly motivated, creative, and able to collaborate effectively with team members.

Application 

The application should be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents should be in Word or PDF format. The application should be registered via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted by the deadline 28 February, 2025.

Further information

For further information, please contact Associate Professor André Ohlin andre.ohlin@umu.se or Associate Professor Naser Tavajohi naser.tavajohi@umu.se

We look forward to receiving your application!