Master Thesis - Advanced electrolytes for sodium-based battery ap...

Forschungszentrum Jülich P-VA Personalabrechnung; Jülich; Sur place; EUR 11 160 - 15 624; Temps partiel

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Meaningful tasks

Practical relevance

Scientific environment

Personal responsibility

Onboarding & teamwork

Work-life balance

Fair remuneration

Résumé du poste

Forschungszentrum Jülich in Münster invites Master students to join the SIB:DE FORSCHUNG project and actively contribute to developing liquid electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries as a strategic alternative to lithium-ion technology. You will identify novel electrolyte components, characterize them electrochemically, and document results in presentations.

The position offers a meaningful thesis topic and an international research environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s studies in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or a similar field.
• Interest in the research area of battery development.
• Willingness to become familiar with various electrochemical methods.
• Prior knowledge in electrochemistry is desirable.
• High degree of independence, motivation, and reliability.
• Language Skills: Very good command of written and spoken English (B2 or higher). German knowledge is an advantage.

Responsabilités

• Identification of novel electrolyte components and their optimal compositions for advanced sodium-based battery electrolytes.
• Physicochemical, electrochemical, and analytical characterization of electrolyte classes by selected methods at the electrolyte and lab cell level.
• Investigation of the electrolyte influence on overall cell performance under varying conditions.
• Documenting and visualizing the achieved results in presentations.

Connaissances

English proficiency (B2+)

Interest in battery research

Willingness to learn electrochemical

German language advantageous

Formation

Master’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science or similar

Description du poste

Master Thesis - Advanced electrolytes for sodium-based battery applications

Batteries move us and our world - they start our cars, keep the hands of our watches running, and ensure that we can take pictures with our smartphones everywhere. At the Helmholtz Institute Münster Ion Conductors for Energy Storage (IMD-4 / HI MS), we are researching novel electrolyte formulations for new and advanced battery concepts, focusing on electrolyte research and development as a key area for future battery concepts. Major research activities comprise the design, synthesis, characterization, and processing of more sophisticated battery electrolytes and chemistries. We are located at the Münster branch of the Jülich Research Centre and are operated in close cooperation with the University of Münster and the RWTH Aachen University. This enables us to pool our expertise in battery research and substantially advance this important future field of electrolyte research.

Your Job

Join the SIB:DE FORSCHUNG (Sodium-Ion-Battery Germany Research) project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and actively contribute to the development of liquid electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) as a strategic alternative to lithium-ion technology, supporting the European energy and mobility transition.

Your tasks in detail:

• Identification of novel electrolyte components (conductive salts, solvents/co-solvents, and functional additives) and their optimal compositions for the development of advanced non-aqueous aprotic sodium-based battery electrolytes.
• Physicochemical, electrochemical, and analytical characterization of various liquid electrolyte classes by selected complementary methods at the electrolyte and lab cell level.
• Investigation of the influence of the electrolyte on the overall cell performance under varying conditions.
• Documenting and visualizing the achieved results in presentations.

Your Profile

• Master’s studies in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or a similar field.
• Interest in the research area of battery development.
• Willingness to become familiar with various electrochemical methods.
• Prior knowledge in electrochemistry is desirable.
• High degree of independence, motivation, and reliability.
• Language Skills: Very good command of written and spoken English with extensive vocabulary is required (at least B2 level according to CEFR), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level. Knowledge of German is an advantage.

Our Benefits for You

• Meaningful Tasks: Your thesis deals with a future-oriented, socially relevant topic with direct practical relevance in an international environment.
• Practical Relevance: With us, you will gain valuable practical experience alongside your studies and actively participate in interdisciplinary projects.
• Scientific Environment: You can expect excellent scientific equipment, modern technologies, and qualified support from experienced colleagues.
• Personal Responsibility: You organize your tasks independently—from preparation to implementation.
• Onboarding & Teamwork: You can look forward to working in a dedicated, international, and collegial team. It is important to us that you quickly settle into the team and are given structured training for your tasks. We also support you from the very beginning and make your start easier with our Welcome Days and Welcome Guide.
• Work-life balance: We offer flexible working hours to help you balance your professional and personal life. You also have the option of flexible working (in terms of location), which is generally possible after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and on-site appointments.
• Fair remuneration: We will pay you a reasonable remuneration for your thesis.

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

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.

The following resources provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and on specific support options: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey

Place of Employment: Münster

Start Date: To the next possible date

Salary: Appropriate remuneration is provided for the thesis.

Application Deadline: The position is advertised until it is successfully filled.