Contract researcher in sodium-ion battery modelling

Université de Technologie de Compiègne is recruiting a contract researcher in sodium-ion battery modelling at the Roberval Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department (IM).

This recruitment is funded by the Public Investment Bank (BPI).

Mission

The successful candidate will actively contribute to the development of battery packs for the project through the academic work of the UTC.

Main activities

·         Develop heterogeneous models of sodium-ion battery packs, adapted for charging as quickly as possible.

·         Analyze the mechanical behavior of the project's sodium-ion batteries, especially in the case of fast charging.

·         Integrate electrochemical, thermal, and even mechanical effects into models.

·         Analyze the differences between homogeneous and heterogeneous models.

·         Exploit the model(s) for design support and for the development of battery management algorithms.

·         Regularly exchange with industrial partners to co-develop and exploit models.

·         Monitor the progress of the project and ensure the proper completion of tasks related to the partners.

·         Promote the results in the form of scientific publications or patents.

Scientific background

Our research group is associated with three industrial partners for a R&I project named BatteNA+. Our goal is to replace the lithium-ion battery of an electric bus with a sodium-ion batteries developed in France. To reduce cost and environmental footprint, the battery pack will be as small as possible. The strategy to allow nonstop operation is to balance the reduced autonomy by charging it as fast as possible at bus stops. At the end of this 3-years-long project, a full demonstrator will be tested in real conditions.

This project is ambitious because of the severe performance requirements. The battery pack will have to drive for hours with only short windows for charging as much energy as possible. Strong temperature variations are expected and have to be mastered. Also, the sodium-ion batteries are known for a higher swelling during operation compared to lithium-ion batteries. Finally, all these features might lead to accelerated ageing if they are not handled correctly. For the project to be successful, these electrical, thermal and mechanical effects have to be well understood and well mastered. In a nutshell, the goal is to unlock the battery full capabilities while guaranteeing there will be no abnormal degradations.

The Roberval laboratory will contribute to the project with its expertise in battery modelling. The proposed post-doctoral position is to develop a multi-physics model that integrates electrochemical, thermal and mechanical behaviours. This model will have to be relevant for a large battery pack made of hundreds of cells. Heterogeneous operation is expected and will have to be evaluated, especially in the case of super-fast-charging. These findings will be used for the battery pack sizing and for its energy management (software).

The post-doc candidate will work with a team including a PhD student dedicated to the project, our research group that work on battery modelling and industrial partners, in particular with the R&I team of the sodium-ion battery supplier. The findings are expected to be shared among partners to achieve the best possible results for the BatteNA+ project.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of contract and expected recruitment dates

Fixed-term contract – expected duration of 24 months – to be filled in January 2026

Gross monthly salary

Depending on experience and funding

Hours

1,607 hours/year

Working environment and context

The position is based in the mechanical engineering department, Roberval laboratory. The successful candidate will carry out their research in collaboration with the dedicated team at the Roberval laboratory and with the project's industrial partners. They will have access to experimental platforms for their research work.

Occasional travel to industrial partners' premises is to be expected.

Skills

Expertise in battery modelling for design or control purposes.

Good knowledge of physics-based modelling and experimental skills.

C1-C2 level written English (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) essential.

Basic French desirable for communication with teams.

Qualifications, training and accreditation

Qualification: Doctorate

Field of study: electrical engineering, battery modelling

A doctorate in electrical engineering on lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery modelling is particularly sought after.

Experience in multiphysics modelling or dynamic modelling for control would be appreciated.

Industrial experience would also be appreciated in order to facilitate exchanges with the project's industrial partners.