Assistant Professor (Research Focussed) or Research Fellow

The Energy Innovation Centre at WMG is at the forefront of developing next generation battery technologies to support the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future. We are seeking an ambitious and talented person to lead cutting edge research in battery formation with sensors for advanced lithium-ion batteries.

This is an exciting opportunity to work across the full innovation pathway, from materials development and electrochemical characterisation through to prototype cell manufacture and technology scale-up. You will play a key role in the research, development and industrialisation of battery technologies, supporting programmes that align with WMG's strategic research themes including Electrochemical Science, Energy Storage, Manufacturing the Future and Resource Efficiency.

Working closely with academic colleagues, industrial partners and internal teams, you will design and deliver experimental research programmes, develop novel battery materials and manufacturing processes, and contribute to the advancement of technology readiness levels. The role offers a unique opportunity to combine scientific excellence with real-world industrial impact, enabling the translation of fundamental research into commercially relevant battery solutions.

You will also contribute to the wider academic mission of the University through publishing high quality research, presenting at leading international conferences, supporting postgraduate researchers, and helping to build WMG's reputation as a global leader in battery innovation.

This position offers the chance to work within a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment, engaging with leading researchers, engineers and industrial stakeholders across the UK and internationally, while helping to shape the future of advanced energy storage technologies.

About You:

You will be a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in lithium-ion battery science and technology, combined with a passion for delivering impactful research that bridges academia and industry.

You will hold a PhD (or be close to completion) in a relevant discipline such as Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Electrochemistry, Energy Storage or a related field, together with a good honours degree. You will have demonstrable experience in lithium-ion battery research ideally including electrode materials development, cell manufacturing, electrochemical testing and advanced materials characterisation.

The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of lithium-ion battery technologies, specifically battery cell formation, production process and sensor deployment. Experience in battery materials, processing, slurry formulation, electrode manufacture, prototyping, formation, post mortem analysis would be particularly advantageous.

You will have a developing track record of high-quality research outputs, evidenced through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences. Strong analytical, experimental and problem-solving skills are essential, along with the ability to plan and deliver research independently while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are enthusiastic about translating fundamental scientific discoveries into practical industrial solutions. You will be comfortable working collaboratively with academic and industrial partners, communicating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, and contributing to the development of future research opportunities and external partnerships.

If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£35,302 per annum). Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£36,320 per annum).

About the Department:

WMG is one of the world's leading centres for applied research, innovation and education, working at the interface between academia and industry to address global challenges and accelerate technological advancement. The Energy Innovation Centre and research teams are at the forefront of advancing battery technologies, supporting the development of sustainable energy storage systems across the entire battery value chain. Research spans materials discovery, cell design, manufacturing, recycling and circular economy approaches.

As part of WMG, you will join a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment that brings together experts in electrochemistry, materials science, manufacturing, data science and systems engineering. You will have access to world-class research facilities and industrial-scale equipment, while working on projects with leading industrial and academic partners in the UK and internationally.

Benefits include an attractive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. A generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy and onsite childcare facilities are offered. Flexible working options are available. The University is a Living Wage employer.