Research Fellow II (Recycling and Remanufacturing of Battery Materials) School of Metallurgy and Materials 106979 Grade 8

Position Details

School of Metallurgy and Materials

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range 47389 to 56535 with potential progression once in post to 63606

Grade: 7

Full Time Fixed Term contract up to March 2028

Closing date: 8th March 2026

Background

The post is a fixed term Research Fellow II position funded by the ReLiB (Recycling and Reuse of Lithium-ion Batteries) research grant provided by the Faraday Institution the UKs independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development. The Faraday Institutions vision is to bring together scientists and industry partners on research projects to reduce battery cost weight and volume; to improve performance and reliability (The Faraday Institution - Powering Britains Battery Revolution).

The overall aim of the ReLiB project (ReLiB Sustainable Management of Lithium-ion Batteries) is to understand the conditions required to ensure the sustainable management of lithium-ion batteries at the end of their useful life in electric vehicles. This will enhance the overall efficiency of the supply chain and ensure that the UK has the facilities required for safe economic and environmentally sound management of the materials contained in lithium-ion batteries.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham are investigating separation technology efficiency and characterisation of separated lithium-ion battery fractions in addition to closing the loop of these material streams through manufacturing efforts and electrochemical testing.

To help us achieve our ambitious goal we are seeking to recruit a Research Fellow II within the Metallurgy and Materials department. The postholder will lead the upscaling and validation of regenerated battery materials. This will include synthesis and scale-up of relithiation processes powder processing and electrode development. This will support other black mass valorisation efforts and contribute to re-manufacturing recycled Li-ion battery streams produced from the project. The successful candidate will be responsible for materials scale-up electrode production on a reel-to-reel coater and single-layer pouch cell manufacturing and electrochemical testing. The role will also include training other researchers working with materials produced by project partners. Effectively benchmarking the performance of these recycling routes to determine and evaluate the processing characteristics of the material streams.

A truly interdisciplinary project within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences this post will work closely with other researchers in Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy and Materials as well as collaborators at central facilities such as Diamond Light Source and in industry.

As part of this role the post holder will work within the Energy Materials Group and contribute to writing future bids; operating within area of specialism. They will analyse and interpret research findings and results; contribute to generating funding; and contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues asset or company sales IP generated) and public understanding of the discipline.

Role Summary

• Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing national and often incipient international reputation

• Plan design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes

• Contribute to the development of research strategies

• Publish results of own research

• Supervise PhD students

• Contribute to the Department/School through management/leadership

• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer enterprise business engagement public engagement activities widening participation schools outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University

Main Duties

To plan and carry out research using appropriate methodology and techniques.This may include where appropriate to the discipline:

• Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support including financial support
• Plan publish and/or execute high-quality research
• Project manage research on ReLIB and supervise other research staff
• Present high-quality findings in publications and conference proceedings
• Develop novel methodologies and techniques related to materials scale-up and electrochemical testing
• Train researchers and PhD students in materials manufacturing powder processing electrode formulations and coatings and cell manufacturing
• Supervise and examine PhD students both within and outside the University
• Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within battery materials and cell development
• Contribute to the administration/management of research across Metallurgy and Materials
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer enterprise business engagement and public engagement activities of manifest benefit to EPS and the University
• Contribute to the management and running of the Energy Materials Group facilities and equipment
• Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding
• Actively manages equality diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour

Person Specification

• A higher degree relevant to battery materials (normally PhD) or equivalent qualifications

• Extensive research experience and scholarship within materials manufacture reel-to-reel coatings and pouch cell making

• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation

• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results

• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful routes to scale-up materials

• Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer enterprise and similar activity

• Experience of championing Equality Diversity and Inclusion in own work area
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation policies procedures are applied

• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action

Informal enquiries to Emma Kendrick email:

Use of AI in applications:We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.