Who we are
Our mission has started. We are starting our own battery cell production in Battery Valley in Salzgitter and ramping up our headquarters for global cell production. The CTO organization takes care of the battery cell development. Our responsibility includes research, predevelopment of materials and components, series development, prototyping, testing and analysis of battery cells.
Your role and key responsibilities
SIBs offer strong potential for cost‑effective, scalable energy storage, but commercialization is still limited by irreversible capacity losses, fast‑charging safety risks, and electrode degradation that are difficult to disentangle in conventional two‑electrode cells.
The overall objective of the PhD Thesis will be:
* To develop a sodium‑specific three‑electrode diagnostic platform that enables real‑time, electrode‑resolved monitoring of sodium‑ion batteries (SIBs) to accelerate materials development and support safe fast‑charging optimization.
* To combine electrode‑resolved potential monitoring with advanced electrochemical diagnostics - particularly impedance spectroscopy with DRT analysis and voltage relaxation protocols - and, where applicable, complementary techniques (e.g., X‑ray/neutron CT) to improve understanding and detection of sodium plating during fast charging and challenging conditions.
The final doctoral thesis topic is determined together with the professor (m/f/d). The prerequisite for cooperation is a confirmation of supervision and the confirmed topic by the professor (m/f/d) of a university or research institution authorized to award doctorates.
What you bring to the team
* Completed university degree (MSc or equivalent) in Electrochemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
* Strong fundamentals in battery electrochemistry, including intercalation mechanisms, polarization/overpotential, SEI formation, degradation mechanisms, and safety considerations.
* Good knowledge of sodium-ion battery (SIB) systems and key performance barriers (irreversible capacity loss, fast-charging safety, electrode degradation).
* Hands-on experience with battery testing, including cycling protocols across C-rate/SOC ranges and ideally temperature-dependent testing.
* Practical electrochemical characterization skills, ideally including EIS and interpretation of impedance behaviour in cells.
* Foundational data analysis and statistics capability (data cleaning, trends/variance evaluation, reproducibility, structured reporting).
* High ownership and independence, with the ability to develop and validate electrochemical methods.
* Excellent communication and teamwork in interdisciplinary and international R&D environments.
* Business fluent English (written and spoken) for reporting, presentations, and collaboration. Basic German skills would be a plus.
What makes you stand out
* Structured, analytical work style with strong documentation habits to support protocol development and standardization.
* German language skills are an advantage.
* Hands-on mentality and the willingness to learn.
What to look forward to
* Three-year doctoral program in which the doctoral students work on internal tasks of PowerCo in addition to their doctorate
* 35-hour week, flexible working hours
* 30 days paid vacation + 24.12. & 31.12. off
* Interdisciplinary qualification opportunities
* Regular feedback meetings and close technical supervision in the department
* Opportunity for scientific exchange with other doctoral students of the Volkswagen Group