Doktorand inom dynamic reconfiguration control of Li-ion batteries

This PhD position gives a unique possibility to reach specialist competence in Automatic Control as well as in battery research, two fields with very strong job markets also in the foreseeable future. The project involves both theoretical in-depth work as well as application oriented and experimental work, with collaboration with specialists at the involved companies. Perhaps most important, though, is that the project may lead to enormous reductions of transport emissions and savings of natural resources. As a PhD student you will be academically and pedagogically trained to teach, and enter a strong international research environment and network.

Information about the research/the project/the division
The position is with the Automatic Control group in the division of Systems and Control. Aiming for sustainable solutions, the group is involved in many research projects on energy savings using automatic control methods. In general, the projects are carried out in collaboration with other research groups, institutes and industry.

The interest and use of battery based electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, are steadily increasing and they are gradually replacing the traditional combustion engine based vehicles due to environmental concern and legislation. Since vehicle batteries often are the most expensive components in a vehicle, since they can rapidly degrade if used unwisely, and since the total battery market is astronomic, it is of outmost importance that the produced battery cells are used to their full potential. Now, this is far from the case, and one of the most important reasons is that there are variations in the individual cells' performances, differences that generally increase as the cells age. Today, the cells in battery packs are connected to each other mainly fixed in series with the consequence that the weakest cells dictate the performance of the entire pack, leading to significantly reduced performance and shortened lifetime.

In this project a novel concept, where the cells' connections can be reconfigured online using built-in power electronics, will be exploited. This adds many degrees of freedom such that the energy and power capacities of the battery can be better utilized; charging can be made faster; their lifetime be increased and also that the output voltage can be controlled. The latter, in turn, has other advantages. For example that the battery can easily be used in 2nd life applications as one can mix new, old and different cell technologies.

The project is a collaboration with the companies SEM and SCANIA, and also Linköping University. The position is for four years of PhD studies extended up to five years to accommodate teaching performed at the department.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibility is to pursue research in line with the project, publish and present scientific articles and take part in discussions. You will also be expected to participate in teaching activities in the field of Automatic Control.

Position summary
The position will be a full-time temporary employment with funding from Mistra Innovation. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in control, signal processing, applied mathematics or power electronics or equivalent. Previous experience of battery research is a merit. 

The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. Swedish is not a requirement but if you have an interest in learning Swedish, Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Our offer to you
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the dynamic city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20200171 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, eg. TOEFL test results. 

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 10th of May - 2020

For questions, please contact:
Assistant Professor Changfu Zou, Department of Electrical Engineering,
changfu@chalmers.se
+46 31 772 3392

Professor Torsten Wik, Department of Electrical Engineering,
tw@chalmers.se 
+46 31 772 5146