Doctoral student in Battery Recycling

Chalmers University of Technology; Göteborgs kommun; On-site; SEK 363,000 - 435,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits

Job summary

Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg invites a highly motivated PhD student to join an EU Horizon project on sustainable battery materials processing and recycling. The position focuses on extracting and recovering critical raw materials from lithium‑ion battery black mass using supercritical CO₂ technologies.

You will work in a multidisciplinary environment with academic and industrial partners across Europe, contribute to innovative recycling processes, and pursue advanced studies

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Metallurgical Engineering or related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication in English.
• Experience with experimental laboratory work and materials characterization techniques.

Responsibilities

• Take courses at an advanced level in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
• Develop scientific concepts and communicate results verbally and in writing.
• Teach at the undergraduate level up to 20% of working hours or perform duties associated with this share of time.
• Develop and optimize extraction processes for recovery of critical raw materials from lithium-ion battery black mass and similar sources.
• Design and perform laboratory-scale experiments related to battery recycling and resource recovery.
• Characterize materials and process products using advanced analytical techniques.
• Analyze experimental data and publish findings in scientific journals and present at conferences.
• Report findings and collaborate with EU Horizon project partners.

Education

Master's degree

Tools

XRD

SEM

Elemental analysis

Job description

Do you want to contribute to the transition towards a circular battery value chain and increased resource security? We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join an exciting EU Horizon-funded research project focused on sustainable battery materials processing and recycling. This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of battery materials research and develop innovative solutions for sustainable resource recovery together with leading academic and industrial partners across Europe.

About Us

The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering pushes the knowledge of chemistry and chemical engineering forward in a broad field of research and education. We offer an international environment, with scientific areas ranging from fundamental chemistry, health and medical technology, materials science, renewable energy, to chemical engineering processing, material recycling, nuclear chemistry, theory and modelling.

Energy and materials advances research on materials and processes for the energy transition. We work across materials chemistry, industrial materials recycling and nuclear chemistry – covering CO₂ capture, high‑temperature corrosion, recycling of critical metals and fuel cycles. Projects span from fundamentals to industry‑cofinanced, and EU‑funded collaborations.

About The Research Project

The Doctoral student will be part of the European Horizon project ReBel, which aims to develop sustainable, feedstock-flexible, low-emission, and near-zero-waste refining technologies for critical battery materials. The project addresses one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: reducing dependence on imported battery-grade raw materials while enabling environmentally responsible recovery from both primary and secondary resources.

As part of the ReBel project, the Doctoral research will focus on the extraction and recovery of critical raw materials from lithium‑ion battery black mass using supercritical CO₂ technologies. The work will contribute to the development of innovative recycling processes for strategic battery elements such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, phosphorus, and graphite.

The research combines experimental process development, advanced materials characterization, chemical process simulation and sustainability-oriented resource recovery. The successful candidate will collaborate with academic and industrial partners across Europe within a multidisciplinary research environment.

Who We Are Looking For

The following requirements are mandatory:

• To qualify as a Doctoral student, you must have a Master's degree (masterexamen) of 120 credits or a Master's degree (magisterexamen) of 60 credits* in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Metallurgical Engineering or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of experimental laboratory work and materials characterization techniques.
• Good ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in interdisciplinary and international environments.
• Cultural awareness, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate and cooperate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds are essential.
• for students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor's degree is accepted.

Meritorious Experiences And Skills

• Strong interest in sustainable materials processing, recycling and chemical technologies, and circular material solutions.
• Highly motivated, independent, and self-propelled, with excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving skills and the ability to develop creative research solutions.
• The successful candidate should be open-minded, collaborative, and able to work effectively in an international and multidisciplinary environment.

The Following Experience Will Strengthen Your Application

• Experience in working with high-pressure systems
• Hydrometallurgy or extractive metallurgy.
• Battery materials and recycling.
• Supercritical fluid technologies.
• Elemental analysis, XRD, SEM, or related characterization techniques.

What You Will Do

• Take courses at an advanced level within Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and other related fields (Graduate schools | Chalmers)
• Develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing.
• The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 percent of working hours
• Develop and optimize extraction processes for the recovery of critical raw materials from lithium‑ion battery black mass and similar sources.
• Design and perform laboratory‑scale experiments related to battery recycling and resource recovery.
• Characterize materials and process products using advanced analytical techniques.
• Analyze experimental data and communicate research findings through scientific publications and conference presentations.
• Report the research findings and collaborate with project partners within the EU Horizon consortium.

Contract terms

• The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start.
• The position is a fixed‑term appointment of four years, with teaching duties up to 20%, which extends the position.
• A starting salary of 35,725 SEK per month (valid from May 1, 2026).
• Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn.

What We Offer

• As a Doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
• Read more about Sweden's generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at Move To Gothenburg.

Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence. We celebrate diversity and consider equality and inclusion as fundamental aspects of all our activities.

If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.

Find more general information about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.

We welcome your application no later than 18/10/2026.

For Questions, Please Contact

Name: Burçak Ebin

Title: Senior Researcher/Assoc. Prof.

Email and/or phone number: [e-mail]

• Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position.***

Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.

Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.