Postdoc Position in Sustainable Aqueous 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. Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University .

Work duties:

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoc researcher to join our team in a cutting-edge project focused on next-generation aqueous batteries. The overarching goal is to develop novel electrodes and electrolytes for high-performance aqueous batteries (hydronium-, ammonium-, iron-, and/or zinc-ion). The work involves studying electrochemical energy storage and degradation mechanisms of electrode materials, formulating and optimizing electrolyte systems (including hybrid solvents, functional additives, and water-in-salt electrolytes), and investigating the electrochemical performances of designed aqueous batteries. 

The main duties involved in a postdoctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Design and synthesize advanced electrode materials for aqueous battery applications, and employ various physical characterization techniques (XRD, SEM/TEM, XPS) to investigate their structure and properties.
• Develop and optimize aqueous electrolyte systems, evaluating their electrochemical window, ionic transport properties, long-term stability, and interactions with electrode materials during cycling. 
• Fabricate and test battery cells (coin, Swagelok, or pouch configurations), assess their cycling stability and rate capability, analyze reaction kinetics and energy storage mechanisms, and study phase transformations and degradation mechanisms of electrode materials. 
• Establish and maintain research infrastructure, including in-group characterization instruments and electrochemical workstations. 
• Write and publish high-quality original research papers in leading peer-reviewed journals.
• Supervise and mentor MSc and PhD students, co-supervising theses and guiding laboratory work and data analysis.

Requirements:

• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in aqueous battery technologies, particularly hydronium-, ammonium-, iron-, and/or zinc- systems.
• Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications and effective scientific communication.
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).

The candidate should have a PhD degree in chemistry, physics, materials science, or an equivalent foreign PhD. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

The assessment of applications is based primarily on the applicant's ability to conduct independent research based on scientific skill. Greater importance is attached to the quality of individual scientific work, than to the amount of publications.

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.

Desirable qualifications: 

In addition to the required qualifications, the following experiences and skills are considered strong merits for the position:

• Experience with synchrotron-based and in situ/operando characterization techniques (e.g., XRD, FT-IR, Raman), including data analysis and interpretation.
• Experience in supervising students and managing research infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience in building scaled-up aqueous battery prototypes. 
• Research experience with a wide range of electrode materials (e.g., metal oxides, metal sulfides, organic compounds, metal anodes).
• Proven ability to work in international, interdisciplinary, and collaborative environments.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date February 1, 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala, Sweden.

For further information about the position, please contact: (Dr. Leiting Zhang, leiting.zhang@kemi.uu.se).

Please submit your application by 5 December 2025, UFV-PA 2025/3540.

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