PhD Stipend in Sustainable Synthesis Pathways for High Performance Calcium Ion Batteries

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science AAU Energy a position as PhD stipend is available within the general study program. The stipend is open for appointment from August 1st 2026 or soon hereafter. The duration of the position is three years.

Your work tasks
You will plan and carry out the sustainable synthesis and optimization of calcium-ion cathode materials and you will develop and optimize calcium-alloying anode materials together with the corresponding processing strategies required for stable and reproducible cycling. A central part of the work includes electrode preparation coin-cell assembly and systematic electrochemical characterization including cycling stability rate capability coulombic efficiency and impedance analysis to identify performance limitations and degradation pathways.
You will use structural compositional and surface-sensitive characterization methods to correlate material structure and microstructure to electrochemical behavior with special attention to how interphase formation and evolution govern charge transfer reversibility and lifetime.

The project further involves investigation of electrodeelectrolyte interface phenomena
benchmarking against the state of the art and critical analysis of results to guide further development of materials and cell concepts while supporting high-quality publications and conference addition to research activities you will contribute to teaching and to supervision of student projects as well as broader dissemination activities within the department.

The position is offered in relation to the research group Batteries and the PhD Student will be affiliated with the section for Power Electronics Systems Integration and Materials.

Your competencies
We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate who is eager to work at the intersection of materials synthesis electrochemistry and practical cell prototyping and who enjoys combining fundamental understanding with hands-on experimental work. The ideal candidate is curious and persistent in the laboratory able to plan and execute experiments independently and motivated to collaborate closely with colleagues in an international and interdisciplinary environment.

Applicants are expected to hold an . degree in materials science chemistry chemical engineering or electrochemistry. Experience with one or more of the following will be considered an advantage: synthesis and processing of inorganic or carbon-based electrode materials electrode formulation and coating coin-cell assembly and electrochemical testing (e.g. galvanostatic cycling rate capability coulombic efficiency impedance spectroscopy).

Familiarity with materials characterization techniques (e.g. XRD SEM/EDS XPS Raman/FTIR or related methods) and systematic data analysis is also beneficial. Strong communication skills in English both written and spoken are required as the project will be carried out in an international research environment.

Danish language skills are highly desirable and will support co-supervision of BSc student projects; however they are not a formal requirement

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Masters 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
AAU Energy is a research department at Aalborg University dedicated to the development of clean and sustainable energy systems. Our activities cover electrical thermal and mechatronic energy technologies and we work closely with industrial partners and other academic environments to address realworld energy challenges.

The department is located in both Aalborg and Esbjerg and this position is based at the Aalborg campus.
AAU Energy employs around 250 staff members at different career stages and from a broad range of national backgrounds. This creates an international and interdisciplinary research environment with many opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. English is widely used as the working language in research and teaching which makes it straightforward for international colleagues to integrate.

We offer access to advanced laboratory and workshop facilities and an environment where you can develop your academic profile through research teaching and collaboration with both Danish and international external partners. As a workplace we value a collegial and inclusive culture with room for professional discussion initiative and mutual support in everyday life. New colleagues whether they come from elsewhere in Denmark or from abroad can draw on the universitys support services related to relocation housing and practical matters.

You can read more about AAU Energy at .

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 (bachelors and masters degree diploma including grades)
• Project description (4-5 pages) that:
  describes the applicants initial thoughts and ideas related to the specific project applied for. This includes a brief state-of-the-art (including short list of references) a time schedule and how the applicant intends to shed light on the project objectives.
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg Universitys recruitment system which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg Universitys 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.

For professional questions please contact Associate Professor Daniel-Ioan Stroe .

Selected candidates will be invited for an interview. Interviews are expected to be held during June 2026.

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
When pursuing a PhD at Aalborg University youll receive a stipend which includes both salary
and pension benefits. The base salary starts at a minimum of 31.24275 DKK before taxes with an
additional 1807% added for pension contributions. However the final salary can be negotiated
based on your qualifications and experience with seniority playing a key role in determining the
main salary.
Read more about pension options here.

At Aalborg Universitys Doctoral School engineering PhD students enjoy unique career
development opportunities. These include personalized DISC profile assessments with feedback
career-focused courses and networking events with trade unions employers and other relevant
parties. Learn more about these initiatives at our Career Hub.

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 3700 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.