Contract researcher in lithium and sodium battery diagnostics

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

This recruitment is funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) as part of the HIPOBAT project of the PEPR Batteries (reference ANR-23-PEBA-0008). More information on the PEPR website: www.pepr-batteries.fr.

Mission

You will contribute to the development of monitoring tools for understanding the performance degradations of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.

Main activities

·         Develop an equivalent electrical circuit (digital twin) whose parameters can be continuously adapted with the aging of the batteries.

·         Establish the links between the parameters of this digital twin, performance and electrochemical phenomena.

·         Propose non-invasive diagnostic methods based on this digital twin.

·         Develop algorithms to speed up or standardize the determination of the parameters of this digital twin and, therefore, to allow rapid diagnosis.

·         Collaborate with project partners for degradation analysis, for the development of new diagnostic approaches and to validate the proposed methods.

·         Analyze the batteries of the HIPOBAT project, especially during their aging.

·         Publish results in peer-reviewed journals.

Scientific background

Started at the end of 2024, the HIPOBAT (High-Power Batteries) project aims to develop very high-power batteries (full charges or discharges in a few minutes), as well as the models and control strategies that allow their safe operation. Twelve laboratories in Germany and France are working together towards these goals, with a particular focus on batteries using solid electrolyte, known as "all-solid-state batteries". Nevertheless, lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries with liquid electrolyte are also being studied to better understand the limitations associated with high-power operation. The Roberval laboratory of the University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC) brings to the HIPOBAT project its expertise in the characterization and modeling of lithium and sodium batteries.

High-power operation increases the risk of early battery degradation. These degradations can be observed in detail when the batteries are opened (post-mortem analyses) or through invasive measures. At the same time, it is necessary to develop methods to better diagnose and understand these degradations in a non-invasive and non-destructive way. Our objective is to study the project's batteries in their commercial format (cylindrical, pouch, etc.) and to strengthen the analysis of ageing campaigns. Here, voltage, current, and temperature measurements are preferred, as they are more easily accessible for laboratories and industry.

The objective is therefore to propose new diagnostic methods for cells in commercial format. These will have to be adapted to lithium-ion and sodium-ion cells. We propose that these methods are based on equivalent circuit models such as those developed at UTC. We intend to develop a digital twin whose parameters directly reflect internal phenomena and whose evolution would be directly linked to internal degradations. Several project partners will also study these degradations from an electrochemical perspective, which should help to develop new ideas and validate proposed approaches.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Application dates

From 7 january 2026 to 7 february 2026

Type of contract and expected recruitment dates

Fixed-term contract – expected duration of 18 months – to be filled in April 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 recruited person will be integrated into our research team that works on the fine modeling of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The team contributing to HIPOBAT includes the present position, a PhD student, another researcher, a research engineer and an associate professor.

Occasional trips to academic partners in France or Germany are to be expected. A stay in Germany is to be considered if the work justifies it.

Skills

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 or electrochemistry on lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery modeling

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

Experience in diagnosing or modeling battery aging would be appreciated.