Double degree PhD student in Chemistry - polymer electrolytes for batteries

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. 

The Department of Chemistry – Ångström Laboratory 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.

This PhD project is carried out in close collaboration with Polymer Technology at KTH, Stockholm. The project should result in a double degree PhD thesis, examined at both universities. 

The period is divided between the two universities, with work during years 1 and 3 being carried out at one university and during years 2 and 4 at the other. The exact allocation between the universities is determined in consultation with the candidate offered the position.

The position is advertised at both Uppsala University and the Royal Institute of Technology. You submit your application to Uppsala University.

Duties
The PhD project involves experimental stuides of polymer electrolytes, primarily solid-state, for applications in Li-based batteries. Polymer synthesis, electrolyte fabrication, construction and testing of prototype battery cells are all parts of the project. The project also involves a number of materials characterization techniques (spectroscopy, structural characterization) and electrochemical characterization of both electrolytes and cells. The project is carried out within the centre Batteries Sweden, and can therefore in part be carried out together with relevant industrial partners. Apart from the research project, which should results in a PhD thesis written by the candidate, the PhD studies also inovles course work and possible teaching or other departmental duties to a limited degree (maximum 20%). 

Eligibility
To be eligible for a doctoral studentship, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements.

To meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have:

• been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
• acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

To meet the specific entry requirements, the applicant must have:

• passed courses of chemistry or in courses of areas of relevance for the discipline, ranging a minimum of 90 higher education credits (of which at least 60 higher education credits should be on the advanced level and at least 30 higher education credits within chemistry). A degree project of at least 15 credits are required.
• English language proficiency equivalent to English 6.

Examples of education that may qualify you are:

• completed a second-cycle degree with a major in chemistry or chemical engineering, or a related discipline such as materials science with a considerable amount of chemistry,
• completed another second-cycle degree with at least 60 credits in a field relevant to the doctoral programme 

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

• Previous experiences with polymers and polymer materials are highly desirable.
• Previous experiences with batteries, especially Li-batteries, are desirable.
• General experiences in 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 2026-02-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala (and Stockholm)

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: 
Prof. Daniel Brandell, daniel.brandell@kemi.uu.se
Prof. Karin Odelius, hoem@kth.se

Please submit your application by 1st December 2025 UFV-PA 2025/3381.

For this recruitment, we would like you to answer the questions below instead of attaching a cover letter.

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