Postdoctoral position in COMPEL-Energy Sciences with a focus on thermal runaway modeling Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Position in COMPEL-Energy Sciences with a Focus on Thermal Runaway Modeling

Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Energy Sciences

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the human condition.

The position is located at the Division of Heat Transfer at the Department of Energy Sciences. At the division, we conduct research and education on the energy generation, conversion, and utilization in different electro- and thermo-mechanical systems where the study of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, reactive flows, as well as solid mechanics plays a central role. In particular, improved understanding of turbulent, reactive, and multiphase flows together with material sciences and novel manufacturing techniques is the key to improved heat transfer mechanisms and more efficient use of energy. Approximately 25 colleagues work at the division, including 15 PhD students. On the international level we collaborate with universities and institutes in Europe, Asia, and North America.

COMPEL, “COMPetence for the ELectrification of the transport system”, is a strategic initiative by the Swedish government, aimed at strengthening research and educational environments within battery technology and electrification. Within COMPEL, the three institutions – Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University, and Uppsala University – in consultation with Swedish industry, deepen their collaboration with the aim of strengthening Sweden's position in battery technology contributing to the electrification of the transport sector, and related areas. The three institutions aim to enhance research and education in the battery sector to ensure strong research in battery technology supporting that electrification of the transport sector is maintained and further developed in Sweden. Research within COMPEL spans the entire battery value chain: materials research, research on new cell concepts and cell manufacturing, battery systems and system integration, recycling, and safety.

At Lund University with the Faculty of Engineering (LTH), COMPEL is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing research environments in battery technology and electrification, in a manner that complements relevant research at other institutions and builds on our strengths. COMPEL at Lund University initially includes researchers from ten departments, and three areas of research have been identified for strategic development: materials research, integration of batteries with power electronics, and safe energy storage. On the educational side, the number of students in several of the Master programs is being increased, and the course offerings related to battery technology and electrification are being strengthened.

This environment is a smorgasbord of resources and opportunities for those who want to develop their careers and make a difference in the transition towards a sustainable future.

Subject Description

This project focuses on the development of GPU-accelerated, high-fidelity thermal runaway simulation models for lithium-ion battery cells, modules, packs, and complete battery systems. Thermal runaway is a chain reaction that leads to the uncontrolled release of energy stored within a battery cell, potentially resulting in fires and other hazardous events that are difficult to mitigate. As battery systems grow in size and complexity, there is an increasing need for computationally efficient predictive tools capable of resolving the underlying physical and chemical processes across multiple scales.

The project will be undertaken in collaboration with Scania Industrial Battery Systems and the partners of the COMPEL initiative. The primary goal of the postdoctoral project is to develop next-generation GPU-based simulation methodologies in OpenFOAM for predicting thermal runaway initiation and propagation at the cell- and module level. Particular emphasis will be placed on leveraging modern heterogeneous computing architectures to enable large-scale, high-fidelity reacting-flow simulations. The models developed at the cell level will subsequently be coupled to module-, pack-, and system-level simulations to improve the prediction of thermal runaway propagation in practical battery systems.

Work Duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. The purpose of the position is to develop the independence as a researcher and to create the opportunity of further development.

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• Develop and implement GPU-accelerated thermal runaway models and numerical methods in OpenFOAM.
• Design and optimize computational frameworks for high-performance simulation of reacting flows and battery safety phenomena on modern GPU architectures.
• Conduct research in related areas of battery modeling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and high-performance computing (HPC).
• Analyze simulation results and publish findings in leading scientific journals and international conferences.
• Collaborate with industrial and academic partners within Scania Industrial Battery Systems and the COMPEL initiative.
• Interact with the research team to develop innovative methodologies in battery safety, CFD, and GPU computing.
• Contribute to applications for external research funding and participate in the development of future research initiatives.
• Participate in teaching activities, including supervision of doctoral student and master's degree projects.

Qualification Requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position. The certificate proving the qualification requirement is met, must be received before the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated no more than three years ago before the last day for application. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Documented experience of programing and/or energy system modelling

Assessment Criteria

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Other qualifications:

• Documented experience in the development and optimization of scientific software for GPU-based computing platforms.
• Experience with programming using CUDA, HIP, SYCL, OpenACC, or equivalent technologies.
• Knowledge of porting CPU-based CFD and multiphysics codes to heterogeneous HPC architectures.
• Experience in performance analysis, profiling, and optimization of parallel applications using tools such as NVIDIA Nsight, rocProfiler, or similar.
• Strong understanding of parallel programming with MPI, OpenMP, and GPU-based programming models.
• Experience working on national or international supercomputing facilities.
• Knowledge of numerical methods for large-scale simulations of fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemically reacting systems.
• Documented ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary research projects.
• Teaching experience.
• Is independent and has a good ability to plan and deliver
• The ability to collaborate with external partners, for instance industry
• Education that constitutes an additional qualification
• Other that offers value to the position

Consideration will also be given to how the applicant's experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

We Offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. It is advisable to enter information on what your unit specifically can offer as a workplace. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University.

Further Information

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”).

How to Apply

Applications are to be submitted via the University's recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)

Welcome to apply!