PhD student in Chemistry with specialization in fluorine-free polymers for batteries - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the chemistry field. The department has more than 270 employees and has a turnover of 300 million SEK. At the department's six programs, we conduct very successful research of a high international standard. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international cooperation and we see continued good growth in our subject area. The department has education assignments in engineering programs and master's programs. More information is available on our website: (https://kemi.uu.se/angstrom/?languageId=1).

The Structural Chemistry program at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström has for many years hosted an environment focused on research and development of materials and their applications within the energy storage area: the Ångström Advanced Battery Centre. We develop novel electrode and electrolyte materials, characterize them, evaluate and improve them with respect to battery performance, and study fundamental chemical processes and properties using both experimental and computational techniques. The research is, as such, both fundamental and applied.

Duties
We are looking for a motivated and ambitious student for developing more sustainable fluorine-free materials to replace PFAS-based components in batteries. One part of the project will be on fluorine-free polymer binders for high voltage cathodes and another on fluorine-free salts and polymers in solid polymer electrolytes for solid-state batteries. The project involves polymer chemistry as well as assembly and testing of battery devices. The project requires extensive use of characterization techniques including electrochemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy and structural characterization.

The student will design, plan, and execute the experimental work, often in collaboration with colleagues, critically analyze and discuss the results, and disseminate the work orally at scientific conferences and written in the form of papers in peer-reviewed journals and the doctoral thesis. The doctoral studies also involve courses and possibly teaching or other departmental duties to a certain extent.

Requirements
The candidate must have:

• been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
• very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and 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.

Additional qualifications
It is desirable that applicants have educational or research experience in batteries. General experience and knowledge of materials chemistry and electrochemistry are important.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 2025-08-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

For further information about the position, please contact: 
Guiomar Hernández, guiomar.hernandez@kemi.uu.se or Charles Aram Hall, charles-aram.hall@kemi.uu.se

Please submit your application by 28 March 2025, UFV-PA 2025/574.

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