One or more PhD stipends in “The optimization of adaptability, flexibility, and efficiency of EV battery recycling processes based on digital technologies”

Jobbeskrivelse
At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Materials and Production a PhD stipend is available within the doctoral programme Materials Science, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. The stipend is open for appointment from 01.09.2026 or soon thereafter. The duration of the position is three years.

Your work tasks
The recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) from electric vehicles (EVs) becomes an urgent problem for the green transition in EU. One of the important outputs from the battery recycling is the black mass. The existing scaled production/recycling line for black mass normally includes two parts: disassembly and pyrometallurgy. However, such a line is often less adaptable, flexible, and efficient, mainly due to the non-standardized battery design. In today’s market, there are many different types of LIBs with variable composition feedstocks and structures. It is not uncommon that in the same batch collected from end-of-life markets, there are different types of LIBs. In order to dissemble these LIBs, manual labor still plays an important role (in e.g., sorting and pre-treatment), which in turn leads to high recycling cost. Furthermore, such diversity also brings the difficulty to the pyrometallurgical processes and negatively influences the recovery rates of critical raw metals.

This project aims to address these issues and enhance the adaptability, flexibility, and operational efficiency of existing battery recycling processes. Specifically, it aims to improve and optimize cost and recovery efficiency of existing scaled recycling technologies and develop technological solutions capable of efficiently recycling diverse feedstocks, including production scrap, and mixed lithium-ion battery chemistries. Besides, it will also take safety, energy efficiency, CO2 and ecological footprint reduction, and economic viability into consideration, when developing the solutions. This project aims to achieve these objectives by applying digital technologies, such as AI, robot, and IOT. It is also expected that the results of this project will also shed the light to the design battery digital passport from a recycling point of view.

Your competencies
The candidate is required to have an Engineering degree on master’s level within manufacturing engineering, automation, or computer science. Specifically, we look for a talented and ambitious candidate who has the following qualifications:

• Good understandings on recycling/production processes, as well as production system design;
• Rich experience of programming and working with AI, robot, or IOT;
• Ability to work independently and collaborate cross-culturally, which requires solid communication skills;
• Excellent English writing and speaking skills to accommodate scientific work and dissemination purposes;
• Promising academic records, well trained skills on applying scientific research methods;
• It is preferable if the candidate has the backgrounds related to battery or chemistry industry.

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at: the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Who we are
Department of Materials and Production (MP) is a wide-ranging research and educational environment at Aalborg University. The Department's mission is to meet the future's demands for new materials and production systems by directing the whole value chain from basic material understanding, materials' applications in mechanical constructions, industrial production, and management. The department has several strong, international, and innovative research groups which comprise everything from basic science to strategic and applicable research. The activities encompass research as well as education within materials, mechanics, physics, production technique, and industrial management and innovation.
Benefitting the industry and additional collaborators, several innovative and unconventional collaborations have been and are developed through interdisciplinary co-operations. Thereby, as an employee at the department, you will become a part of an international research environment, where the focus is on innovation, knowledge sharing/building, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Specifically, you will join the research group called “Sustainable Operations and Innovation Management (SOIM)”. The group serves as a national hub for applied research in industrial manufacturing. More information can be found: https://www.mp.aau.dk/research/research-areas/soim#

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelor's and master's degree diploma, including grades)
• A research proposal addressing the main issue of this project and including e.g., state of the art, research design, time schedule etc. (maximum 5 pages);
• Scientific qualifications: transcripts, publications if there are any, awards, etc.;
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position, e.g. references/recommendation letters, other documents the applicant wants to be considered.

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish)

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Contacts

• associate professor, Yang Cheng: +4599407103, [email protected]
• HR Support : +4599403031, [email protected]

Ansøgningsfrist
28-06-2026

Ref. nummer
2026/796

Afdeling
Department of Materials and Production