Research Fellow

at  University of Warwick

WMG

Position Type
Fixed Term, Full Time
Duration
2 years (subject to funding renewal after 12 months)
Salary
£33,966 to £44,263 per annum
About the Role
For informal enquiries, please contact Mona Faraji Niri (Associate Professor) at Mona.faraji-niri@warwick.ac.uk.
In WMG are undertaking research into how traditional Li ion battery manufacturing processes can be optimised through the application of systems engineering and data science methods. Creating new models and predictive tools to improve battery performance and the underpinning efficiency, repeatability and reliability of the manufacturing process.
We are therefore seeking a Research Fellow to join our team in the NEXTRODE Project Funded by Faraday Institution. You will explore the boundaries of a data-driven approach approaches in which machine learning and deep learning methods are combined with physical models of battery performance to understand if causality exists between manufacturing process variables and key electrode/cell attributes. You will be supporting the academic investigators to coordinate all aspects of the research, including experimental design, data capture, model creation and validation. You will have unique access to the resources of our Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and bespoke high-performance computing facilities.
The post is funded by the research grant: “Next Generation Electrodes (Nextrode)” that is provided by the Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development. The Nextrode consortium comprises a number of leading UK universities including: Warwick, UCL and the universities of Oxford, Sheffield, Birmingham and Southampton. The Faraday Institution vision is to bring together scientists, engineers and industry partners on research projects to reduce battery cost, weight, and volume; to improve performance and reliability (faraday.ac.uk).
The overall aim of the Nextrode project is to seize the emergent opportunity in the manufacture of smart electrodes by investigating: (i) the underlying reasons why current Li ion battery electrode performance in practice falls well short of theory, (ii) novel approaches to electrode design that can overcome these restrictions, and (iii) how these designs can be realized at a scale and cost that makes them attractive to industry. The research encompasses both optimisation of current manufacturing practices based on improved scientific insight, and the development of new electrode manufacturing processes. Across the Nextrode consortium, the research involves elements of design, modelling, manufacture, characterisation and data science.
About You
You will need a PhD in a relevant discipline, along with excellent computing and program skills in multiple languages and environments. You will also need a problem-solving ability to manage and analyse manufacturing datasets and the ability to publish high-quality academic outputs.
AI/ML and advanced data processing for tabular, time series and image data are required core skills, Battery and manufacturing knowledge are desired.
If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.
About the Department
WMG is the largest department at the University of Warwick with over 800 staff, world renowned for providing innovative solutions to industry through its research, development and education programmes. Our industry focussed education portfolio includes nearly 3,000 students studying management, technology and applied engineering subjects, at postgraduate and undergraduate level. We have high expectations for our teaching and our courses are regularly ranked top in the UK and amongst the leading courses in their field in the world.
At WMG we are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. We currently hold the Athena SWAN Silver Award and the University of Warwick holds an Institutional Silver Award: a national initiative that recognizes the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all in academia.
For further information about WMG, please visit our website.
For further information on the WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult, please see our website.
We believe there should be no barriers to continuing education, and we strive to ensure that the future workforce has the skills they need to become the UK’s upcoming engineers and inventors.
Our unique approach to undergraduate education enables full-time students, Higher Apprentices, and full-time employees to gain an engineering degree.
Our teaching staff deliver educational programmes not just at Warwick, but internationally, and the knowledge we can leverage from our research excellence enables our students to reach their highest possible standards.
About the University
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’*.

You’ll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

• QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021
How to Apply

Please refer the Job description for details