Postdoc in sodium-ion battery state estimation

Aalborg University; Aalborg; On-site; DKK 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Danish language courses

Onboarding and integration support

Job summary

AAU Energy at Aalborg University invites applications for a Postdoc in sodium-ion battery state estimation, based at the Aalborg campus. The appointment runs for 20 months from 1 November 2026.

You will work within the Batteries group, conducting research on state estimation, SBMS development, and algorithm design while collaborating with partners in Denmark and abroad. Excellent English communication is required.

Qualifications

• PhD in related field with focus on battery state estimation.
• Experience with battery state estimation, and model- and data-driven methods.
• Proficiency in Matlab/Simulink and electrochemical testing environments.
• Strong communication in English; Danish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Research battery state estimation for sodium-ion technology.
• Design and execute studies; analyze data and disseminate results.
• Collaborate with group and external partners in Denmark and abroad.
• Develop algorithms for estimating charge, health and power including Kalman filtering and ML methods.
• Publish in international journals and present at conferences.
• Contribute to development of battery management systems.

Skills

Battery state estimation

Kalman filtering

Machine learning

Scientific collaboration

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Matlab/Simulink

EIS equipment

Battery cyclers

Job description

At AAU Energy, a position as Postdoc in sodium-ion battery state estimation is open for appointment from 1st of November 2026 or as soon as possible hereafter. The position is available for a period of 20 months and is based at Aalborg University’s campus in Aalborg.

You will be part of the research group Batteries, which is placed in the section for Mechatronic Systems. The position is closely connected to our activities within applied battery research, and your work will contribute to the development of new knowledge within this field.

Your work tasks

In this position you will conduct research within battery state estimation, with a particular focus on emerging sodium-ion battery technology. You will be involved in both independent and collaborative research activities in close interaction with colleagues in the group and external partners in Denmark and abroad.

You will work with the design and execution of research studies, the analysis and interpretation of data, and the dissemination of results in high-quality scientific outlets. Your daily work will typically involve a combination of independent research and collaboration in project teams, where you help develop concepts, methods and solutions that are relevant for the energy sector.

In particular, you will be involved in a research project related to development of a battery management system (BMS) tailored for sodium-ion batteries. The tasks include battery cell characterization and modelling based on laboratory tests, and development of algorithms for estimating the charge level, health, and power capability which includes robustness against different operation conditions. The position is a part of a research project and prototype battery modules will be produced by one of the partners. The tasks include testing of these prototype modules as well. Sodium-ion batteries is a relatively new technology, and they have their own electrochemical properties. One of the key questions of this research project is to obtain a better understanding of the difference between emerging sodium-ion batteries and traditional lithium-ion based batteries when it comes to the battery state estimation and management.

You will be expected to contribute to scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals and to present your work at conferences, workshops and meetings with partners. You will collaborate with researchers across the department and, where relevant, with industrial or public stakeholders. The position may include a limited amount of teaching and supervision of students at bachelor’s and master’s level, for example in the form of project supervision or involvement in courses related to your expertise. Depending on project needs, you may also take part in preparing applications for external research funding and in supporting the development of new research directions at the department.

You hold a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Engineering, Electrochemistry or a closely related field or can document equivalent scientific qualifications at PhD level. Your research profile is clearly connected to battery state estimation, and you can demonstrate experience with development of battery electric equivalent circuit models and algorithms for estimating the charge, health, and power based on direct methods (e.g. open circuit voltage), model-based methods (e.g. Kalman filtering), data driven methods (e.g. machine learning or neural networks), etc. The experience could come from lithium-ion, lithium-ion capacitor, sodium-ion, or other battery technologies.

You have solid skills in Matlab/Simulink simulation tool, experimental work in laboratory environments, working with battery cyclers and equipment for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), preparing battery test setups, and data processing and analysis of battery test data and you are comfortable working systematically with complex technical problems. Experience with industrial collaboration and battery management systems will be an advantage, as well as documented ability to publish in international journals.

You communicate clearly in English, both orally and in writing, and you can present your work to both specialists and non-specialists. If you already speak Danish or would like to learn it, this will be an asset in everyday life at the university and in Danish society, and language courses are available locally.

You are motivated by working in an international academic environment, where you collaborate closely with colleagues, share knowledge and contribute actively to joint projects, while also managing your own tasks in a structured and responsible way. You are curious, open to feedback and able to move projects forward from idea to concrete results within agreed deadlines.

Who we are

AAU Energy is a research department at Aalborg University dedicated to the development of clean and sustainable energy systems. Our activities cover electrical, thermal and mechatronic energy technologies, and we work closely with industrial partners and other academic environments to address real-world energy challenges.

The department is located in both Aalborg and Esbjerg, and this position is based at the Aalborg campus. AAU Energy employs around 250 staff members at different career stages and from a broad range of national backgrounds. This creates an international and interdisciplinary research environment with many opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. English is widely used as the working language in research and teaching, which makes it straightforward for international colleagues to integrate.

We offer access to advanced laboratory and workshop facilities and an environment where you can develop your academic profile through research, teaching and collaboration with both Danish and international external partners. As a workplace we value a collegial and inclusive culture with room for professional discussion, initiative and mutual support in everyday work.

New colleagues, whether they come from elsewhere in Denmark or from abroad, can draw on the university’s support services related to relocation, housing and practical matters. Aalborg University offers general onboarding support to all new employees, as well as dedicated support for international staff through its International Staff Unit (ISU). You can read more about relocation support and services here: https://www.en.hr.aau.dk/relocation-support

Aalborg University also offers Danish language courses to support international employees in settling into both the workplace and Danish society. International employees typically can attend Danish language courses during their first years in Denmark (depending on individual eligibility and national schemes).

You can read more about AAU Energy at www.energy.aau.dk.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us.

For professional questions, please contact Erik Schaltz, Associate Professor, [e-mail], [phone].

Qualification requirements

Appointment as postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

Further information

Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment

The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world

Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.