Postdoc Recycling of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

Job description

Batteries will play a crucial role in the transition from fossil fuels to a more sustainable world based on renewables. Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are used in many consumer products (e.g., toys, and electric cars) due to their high energy density. The LIB market is expected to grow exponentially the coming decades due to the electrification of the society. Between now and 2030, it has been estimated that around 11 million metric tons of LIBs will reach the end of their lives. Worldwide, less than 5% of all LIBs are currently recycled, which means that 95% of the spent batteries are landfilled with a serious risk for the health and environment. LIBs contain large amounts of critical raw materials like cobalt, lithium, and nickel, which should be recycled and not wasted.

In this project, you will advance electrochemical recycling technologies and translate laboratory innovation into scalable solutions. You will:

• Design and optimise electrochemical recycling processes (specifically: electrodialysis and flow capacitive deionization) to selectively recover lithium and other valuable metals from LFP battery leachates.
• Develop and test new materials and cell configurations, improving extraction efficiency, selectivity and energy performance.
• Adapt and enhance laboratory-scale electrochemical setups to generate robust experimental data on process stability, efficiency and energy consumption.
• Evaluate and quantify the technical and economic feasibility of the developed processes through a techno-economic analysis, identifying pathways toward scale-up and industrial implementation.
• Collaborate and communicate with industrial partners and academic colleagues, ensuring alignment with project deliverables and translating scientific insights into practical recycling strategies.

You will work in close collaboration with industry partners and contribute to scientific publications and knowledge dissemination. Through this role, you directly support the transition to a circular battery economy by developing technologies that reduce waste, recover critical materials and lower the environmental footprint of energy storage systems.

Process & Energy – Engineering Thermodynamics Group
You will be part of the Engineering Thermodynamics group within the Process & Energy Department at TU Delft and will work under guidance of Dr. Mahinder Ramdin. The group focuses on understanding and modelling the thermodynamic behaviour of fluids and mixtures to enable efficient, reliable and sustainable energy and process technologies. By combining molecular-level theories, advanced equations of state and computational modelling, the team investigates phase equilibria, transport properties and complex fluid behaviour relevant to applications such as carbon capture, hydrogen systems, geothermal energy and advanced separation processes.

Within the Engineering Thermodynamics group, you will work in a collaborative and international research environment, closely connected to partners across academia and industry. You will contribute to the development of predictive thermodynamic models and simulation tools that underpin next-generation energy systems and circular chemical processes. The group values scientific interaction, intellectual curiosity and open collaboration, offering you the opportunity to strengthen your analytical and computational expertise.

Job requirements
We are seeking an inspiring and highly self-motivated postdoctoral researcher. You have a critical and rigorous scientific mindset, are highly motivated, and possess strong project-management skills. You can work independently while also being an effective team player, and are eager to collaborate closely with other researchers and industrial partners.

Moreover, you meet the following requirements:

• A PhD degree in either applied physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering or a similar field.
• Profound knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals, and electrochemistry.
• Demonstrated expertise in recycling of critical raw materials.
• You demonstrate effective communication skills in English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Postdoc Recycling of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

Job description

Batteries will play a crucial role in the transition from fossil fuels to a more sustainable world based on renewables. Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are used in many consumer products (e.g., toys, and electric cars) due to their high energy density. The LIB market is expected to grow exponentially the coming decades due to the electrification of the society. Between now and 2030, it has been estimated that around 11 million metric tons of LIBs will reach the end of their lives. Worldwide, less than 5% of all LIBs are currently recycled, which means that 95% of the spent batteries are landfilled with a serious risk for the health and environment. LIBs contain large amounts of critical raw materials like cobalt, lithium, and nickel, which should be recycled and not wasted.

In this project, you will advance electrochemical recycling technologies and translate laboratory innovation into scalable solutions. You will:

• Design and optimise electrochemical recycling processes (specifically: electrodialysis and flow capacitive deionization) to selectively recover lithium and other valuable metals from LFP battery leachates.
• Develop and test new materials and cell configurations, improving extraction efficiency, selectivity and energy performance.
• Adapt and enhance laboratory-scale electrochemical setups to generate robust experimental data on process stability, efficiency and energy consumption.
• Evaluate and quantify the technical and economic feasibility of the developed processes through a techno-economic analysis, identifying pathways toward scale-up and industrial implementation.
• Collaborate and communicate with industrial partners and academic colleagues, ensuring alignment with project deliverables and translating scientific insights into practical recycling strategies.

You will work in close collaboration with industry partners and contribute to scientific publications and knowledge dissemination. Through this role, you directly support the transition to a circular battery economy by developing technologies that reduce waste, recover critical materials and lower the environmental footprint of energy storage systems.

Process & Energy – Engineering Thermodynamics Group
You will be part of the Engineering Thermodynamics group within the Process & Energy Department at TU Delft and will work under guidance of Dr. Mahinder Ramdin. The group focuses on understanding and modelling the thermodynamic behaviour of fluids and mixtures to enable efficient, reliable and sustainable energy and process technologies. By combining molecular-level theories, advanced equations of state and computational modelling, the team investigates phase equilibria, transport properties and complex fluid behaviour relevant to applications such as carbon capture, hydrogen systems, geothermal energy and advanced separation processes.

Within the Engineering Thermodynamics group, you will work in a collaborative and international research environment, closely connected to partners across academia and industry. You will contribute to the development of predictive thermodynamic models and simulation tools that underpin next-generation energy systems and circular chemical processes. The group values scientific interaction, intellectual curiosity and open collaboration, offering you the opportunity to strengthen your analytical and computational expertise.

Job requirements
We are seeking an inspiring and highly self-motivated postdoctoral researcher. You have a critical and rigorous scientific mindset, are highly motivated, and possess strong project-management skills. You can work independently while also being an effective team player, and are eager to collaborate closely with other researchers and industrial partners.

Moreover, you meet the following requirements:

• A PhD degree in either applied physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering or a similar field.
• Profound knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals, and electrochemistry.
• Demonstrated expertise in recycling of critical raw materials.
• You demonstrate effective communication skills in English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

Researcher position

Job description

Your work will be centered around two closely linked materials: the bioplastic PHA which is produced by and extracted from bacteria feeding on organic waste streams, and PHA-X, a composite obtained from PHA-rich biomass.

You will further develop, test and optimize the PHA-X material, you will, in close collaboration with two industrial partners, contribute to designing, manufacturing, testing and optimizing two prototypes from PHA-X, with a special focus on biodegradability and prolonging life-expectancy by applying biobased coatings.

You will further develop, test and optimize a sustainability analysis methodology. You will, in close collaboration with two knowledge institutes and with the help of the other consortium members, apply this methodology throughout the project on both PHA-based and PHA-X based applications.

Your tasks will include :

• Developing, testing and optimizing the PHA-X material
• Designing, manufacturing, testing and optimising of two prototypes from PHA-X
• Developing, testing and optimising a sustainability analysis methods

As this project combines both fundamental scientific knowledge on material development, applies research on designing of prototypes and a methodological sustainability approach, the candidate will be fully employed at the Industrial Design Engineering faculaty of TU Delft, but will spend roughly 1 day / week at an industrial partner in Delft, and roughly 1 day/week at AMS Institute in Amsterdam.

Job requirements

• You have a master’s degree in industrial design engineering, material science, mechanical engineering or related field (or will have by the time of your appointment).
• You have a hands-on mindset and enjoy conducting experimental work.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering
Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.

In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.

PhD Airline Operations for Mixed Fleets of Novel Aircraft: From Network Development to Scheduling

Job description

The goals for future aviation are ambitious; on a global scale, air traffic is expected to continue growing in the foreseeable future. At the same time, we urgently have to reduce the climate impact of the aviation industry. To achieve this, aircraft concepts are studied with novel energy carriers such as batteries and hydrogen. These novel powertrains lead to different flight performance, payload and range capabilities, and airport needs.

Airlines will soon have to make the strategic decisions about their future networks and fleet composition to make their operations more sustainable: which aircraft to operate, when to introduce them, where to fly to, and how frequently. At the same time, these novel aircraft concepts may lead to different tactical decisions about the schedule, such as where to charge or which speed to fly at. All these decisions are taken with an eye on reducing climate impact, while the economic and operational penalties have to be kept to a minimum

Your unique challenge as a PhD candidate at TU Delft is to address the following question: how can we support future airline decision making to introduce mixed fleets of more sustainable aircraft technologies? We want to support airlines, OEMs, and other stakeholders to make effective choices for introducing novel aircraft through advanced methods and making the results interpretable.

You will develop mathematical models and computational tools to look decades ahead and perform strategic airline planning, while considering the impact novel aircraft may have at tactical and operational levels, and vice versa. In addition, your models will be coupled to other tools to capture all aspects of the changing aviation ecosystem. Therefore, an efficient computational setup is key. You will build upon existing research and collaborate with colleagues in our section studying future operations of sustainable energies.

During the PhD project, you will be involved in the Dutch DASAL project, together with other PhD candidates at the faculty. Your main activity in this project will be modelling of airline operations for aircraft with novel energy carriers. You will work closely together with other experts involved in this project, at TU Delft and the Dutch Royal Aerospace Institute NLR, to receive inputs on aircraft design and flight performance, and you will provide fleet and flight schedule outputs to other disciplines.

You will, of course, be writing papers and attending conferences. In addition, you will supervise labs and coach master students during their graduation research under the flag of the Operations and Environment section. Who are your fellow team members? We are an interdisciplinary and internationally diverse group of some 30 driven assistant and associate professors, lecturers, project managers, PhD candidates, and postdocs. We share the ambition to develop models and tools in which we accumulate our expertise to enable future adaptive and sustainable air transport operations. Fostering an open, friendly, and collaborative atmosphere in which people are approachable, we share knowledge, help each other, and meet socially. And you will get all the support and training you need to evolve and grow as a researcher.

Learn more about the Operations and Environment section here.

Job requirements
Contributing to the introduction and operations the future of sustainable aircraft technologies. That’s the drive you share with us. You put your analytical skills to good use, creating mathematical models and translating them into optimisation algorithms and programs. You work well both independently and in collaboration with academic researchers and industrial stakeholders, for which you harness your communication skills. And you enjoy coaching master students, while developing your own skills and competencies.

You also have:

• An MSc in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Research, Transportation Engineering, or another relevant subject.
• Very good analytical, modelling, optimisation, and Python programming skills.
• Knowledge of aircraft technology and performance models is a plus.
• A good command of spoken and written English, as you’ll be working in an internationally diverse community, participating in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and writing scientific articles and a PhD thesis. For more details, please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

TU Delft
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is a leading international community where innovation in aerospace meets global challenges. Our support and scientific staff, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and students, largely work together on three main themes: the energy transition, sustainable aerospace, and safety and security, with the aim of tackling climate change and contributing to the independence and security of Europe.

When you join us, you become part of a diverse, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment where your ideas and perspectives are valued. Our work extends beyond the lab—into field labs, innovation hubs, and partnerships with other faculties, research institutes, governments, and industry, both locally and globally.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace, assisted by an active Diversity & Inclusion team. This includes tangible support such as funding for extra personnel for family and caregiving responsibilities, mentoring programmes, and initiatives that promote cultural exchange and integration.

You don’t just join our faculty — you join a community where you can thrive, grow, and help shape the future of aerospace.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Researcher position

Job description

Your work will be centered around two closely linked materials: the bioplastic PHA which is produced by and extracted from bacteria feeding on organic waste streams, and PHA-X, a composite obtained from PHA-rich biomass.

You will further develop, test and optimize the PHA-X material, you will, in close collaboration with two industrial partners, contribute to designing, manufacturing, testing and optimizing two prototypes from PHA-X, with a special focus on biodegradability and prolonging life-expectancy by applying biobased coatings.

You will further develop, test and optimize a sustainability analysis methodology. You will, in close collaboration with two knowledge institutes and with the help of the other consortium members, apply this methodology throughout the project on both PHA-based and PHA-X based applications.

Your tasks will include :

• Developing, testing and optimizing the PHA-X material
• Designing, manufacturing, testing and optimising of two prototypes from PHA-X
• Developing, testing and optimising a sustainability analysis methods

As this project combines both fundamental scientific knowledge on material development, applies research on designing of prototypes and a methodological sustainability approach, the candidate will be fully employed at the Industrial Design Engineering faculaty of TU Delft, but will spend roughly 1 day / week at an industrial partner in Delft, and roughly 1 day/week at AMS Institute in Amsterdam.

Job requirements

• You have a master’s degree in industrial design engineering, material science, mechanical engineering or related field (or will have by the time of your appointment).
• You have a hands-on mindset and enjoy conducting experimental work.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering
Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.

IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.

In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.