Postdoc - Modelling (Digital Twin Development) of Large-Scale Li-ion Battery Pack

Work group:

IEK-9 - Grundlagen der Elektrochemie

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Job description:

Your Job:

The German automotive industry can look back on more than a century of experience with fossil-fuel-powered drive trains. At present, however, the electrification of the drive train, which has now also been recognized by politics and industry, asks for a drastic modification for the entire value chain. As a mobile energy source and with around 40% of the value chain of an electric car, the battery is clearly the most important part. In the planned joint project "Progressive multi-cell network concepts for battery systems with integrated sensors" (ProMoBiS), the objective is to develop and optimize a "smart", scalable multi-cell network (battery module) of lithium-ion battery cells, supported by application-oriented tests and modeling and simulation. The task for Forschungszentrum Jülich within the consortium is to develop a simulation model for the multi-cell network. In this project, your main tasks are:

• Modelling the impedance spectra of the battery cells and module with a physics-based approach
  
• Parameterization and validation of a tunneling-based battery aging model for the used battery cells
  
• Determining the requirements between modeling and sensor technology, e.g. sampling frequencies, accuracies, and frequency ranges for impedance spectroscopy
  
• Numerical, model-based investigation of the influence of alternative excitation signals (from e.g. auxiliary units, charging stations, drive electronics) on the electrochemical behavior of the battery cell and module
  
• Collaborating with other partners in the consortium
  
• Writing scientific documents and presenting the results at meetings/conferences

Your Profile:

• Master degree and subsequent PhD degree in Electrical-, Mechanical-, or Automotive Engineering, or Physics
  
• Strong knowledge of battery electrochemistry
  
• Experience in physics-based modeling and simulation in connection with electrochemical energy storage systems
  
• Familiarity and experience with programming languages, such as MATLAB or Python
  
• Independent and result-oriented way of working
  
• Strong ability to work in a team and with intern and extern partners
  
• Good communication skills in spoken and written English are mandatory, German skills are an advantage

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:

• Flexible working hours in a full-time position with the option of slightly reduced working hours
  
• 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
  
• Flexible work (location) arrangements, e.g. remote work
  
• A highly motivated group within an exciting institute
  
• Comprehensive training courses and individual opportunities for personal and professional further development
  
• Extensive company health management
  
• Ideal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly corporate policy
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  

In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere in Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: go.fzj.de/benefits

We offer you an exciting and varied role in an international and interdisciplinary working environment. The position is limited until 30.04.2026. Salary and social benefits will conform to the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) depending on the applicant’s qualifications and the precise nature of the tasks assigned to them.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.