PhD Candidate in Pre-treatment and Extraction of Battery Materials

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

   

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About the position

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

This PhD position is a collaboration between the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology (CTH) in Sweden. The candidate will join the Resources, Energy & Environment research group at NTNU and work closely with co-supervisors at the Nuclear Chemistry/Industrial Materials Recycling research group at CTH.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The project focuses on developing new knowledge and process routes for recycling spent battery materials. The work spans pre-treatment, separation, and extraction, including mechanical, chemical, and thermal processing steps. A central aim is to establish robust process routes that can handle variation in battery chemistries and material compositions, and to link pre-treatment to downstream extraction and recovery performance. The work combines laboratory-scale process development and thermodynamic modelling, with a clear focus on understanding how process steps influence material behaviour and recovery efficiency.

Duties of the position

The PhD candidate will conduct experimental and modelling work on the recycling of spent battery materials, with an emphasis on lithium-ion systems and, where appropriate, extension to other relevant battery chemistries. The work will include the development and evaluation of pre-treatment and extraction processes.

The main duties include:

• documenting the state of the art in pre-treatment, separation, and extraction of spent battery materials.
• developing laboratory-scale process steps for mechanical, thermal, and chemical pre-treatment of battery materials.
• developing and testing extraction and recovery routes, including leaching-based approaches, to evaluate the output from pre-treatment.
• establishing links between pre-treatment conditions and downstream recovery efficiency. 
• comparing different process routes and identifying their strengths and limitations.
• carrying out thermodynamic modelling to support experimental design and interpretation of results. 
• contributing to overall process evaluation at a system level.
• contributing to plans for further development and industrial implementation. 

The candidate is expected to spend periods of the PhD at both NTNU and Chalmers and to participate in supervising MSc and BSc students, as well as in relevant scientific activities.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in materials science and engineering, or in chemical engineering with a clear specialisation in materials processing, metallurgical processes, or inorganic process chemistry. 
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme in which 120 credits are obtained at the master’s level. 
• You must have a solid academic background and an average grade from the master’s degree programme, or equivalent, equal to B or better compared with NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with a weaker grade background may be considered if they can document particular suitability for PhD studies. 
• Master’s students may apply, but must complete and document their degree before starting the position. 
• You must meet the admission requirements for the Faculty’s Doctoral Programme (https://www.ntnu.edu/nv/phd)
• You must have good written and oral English language skills. 
• The project includes planned research stays and active work at both NTNU in Norway and Chalmers in Sweden. Applicants must therefore be able to undertake research stays in both countries and meet the formal requirements necessary for such mobility.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experimental experience in materials processing, including pre-treatment, separation, or extraction of inorganic materials. 
• Background in pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, or related process routes.
• Experience with laboratory-scale process development and unit operations. 
• Good understanding of thermodynamics as it relates to materials and chemical processes. 
• Experience with modelling tools such as computational thermodynamics. 
• Experience with characterisation methods relevant to chemical or phase analysis. 
• Ability to work hands-on with experimental setups. 

Personal characteristics

• Able to work independently and in a structured way. 
• Interested in combining experimental and modelling work. 
• Motivated to work on complex materials processing problems. 
• Able to communicate clearly in speech and writing. 

In the evaluation process, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, and personal suitability.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The period of employment is 3 years, with the possibility of 1 additional year of teaching, subject to agreement.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Materials Science and Engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phmt) within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
• CV and certificates.
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• If you have publications other relevant research work.
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees.

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Ragnhild Elizabeth Aune by emailing ragnhild.aune@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Marie Kristiansen, e-mail: marie.kristiansen@ntnu.no. 

Application deadline: 12.05.2026

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For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 
 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality. 

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