Research Fellow II (Recycling and Remanufacturing of Battery Materials) – School of Metallurgy and Materials – 106979 – Grade 8 Full-time

Research Fellow II

The post is a fixed term Research Fellow II position funded by the ReLiB (Recycling and Reuse of Lithium-ion Batteries) research grant, provided by the Faraday Institution, the UK's independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development. The overall aim of the ReLiB project (ReLiB – Sustainable Management of Lithium-ion Batteries) is to understand the conditions required to ensure the sustainable management of lithium-ion batteries at the end of their useful life in electric vehicles. This will enhance the overall efficiency of the supply chain and ensure that the UK has the facilities required for safe, economic and environmentally sound management of the materials contained in lithium-ion batteries.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham are investigating separation technology efficiency and characterisation of separated lithium-ion battery fractions, in addition to closing the loop of these material streams through manufacturing efforts and electrochemical testing.

To help us achieve our ambitious goal, we are seeking to recruit a Research Fellow II within the Metallurgy and Materials department. The postholder will lead the upscaling and validation of regenerated battery materials. This will include synthesis and scale-up of relithiation processes, powder processing, and electrode development. This will support other black mass valorisation efforts and contribute to re-manufacturing recycled Li-ion battery streams produced from the project. The successful candidate will be responsible for materials scale-up, electrode production on a reel-to-reel coater, and single-layer pouch cell manufacturing and electrochemical testing. The role will also include training other researchers, working with materials produced by project partners. Effectively benchmarking the performance of these recycling routes to determine and evaluate the processing characteristics of the material streams.

A truly interdisciplinary project within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, this post will work closely with other researchers in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy and Materials as well as collaborators at central facilities such as Diamond Light Source and in industry.

As part of this role the post holder will work within the Energy Materials Group and contribute to writing future bids; operating within area of specialism. They will analyse and interpret research findings and results; contribute to generating funding; and contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and public understanding of the discipline.

Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing national and often incipient international reputation

Plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes

Contribute to the development of research strategies

Publish results of own research

Supervise PhD students

Contribute to the Department/School through management/leadership

Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities, widening participation, schools outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University

To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques. This may include, where appropriate to the discipline:

Pursue personal research, including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support

Plan, publish and/or execute high-quality research

Project manage research on ReLIB, and supervise other research staff

Present high-quality findings in publications and conference proceedings

Develop novel methodologies and techniques related to materials scale-up and electrochemical testing

Train researchers and PhD students in materials manufacturing, powder processing, electrode formulations and coatings, and cell manufacturing

Supervise and examine PhD students, both within and outside the University

Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within battery materials and cell development

Contribute to the administration/management of research across Metallurgy and Materials

Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement activities of manifest benefit to EPS and the University

Contribute to the management and running of the Energy Materials Group facilities and equipment

Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding

Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour

A higher degree relevant to battery materials (normally PhD) or equivalent qualifications

Extensive research experience and scholarship within materials manufacture, reel-to-reel coatings and pouch cell making

Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation

Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results

Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful routes to scale-up materials

Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity

Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area

Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied

Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action