Aufgabengebiet
Position rationale & commercial intent
The R&D position will be embedded in an ongoing research project focused on the development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries for stationary energy storage, with the goal of providing a safer, more sustainable, and more cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion technology for applications such as renewable-energy buffering, grid support, and industrial backup power. The project has already reached TRL 4, with validated component-level results including PBA-based cathode development and high-mass-loading electrode processing as well as promising cell-level concepts relevant to future battery design that combine improved manufacturability with significantly reduced projected processing costs.
The current team is mainly driving the electrochemical and materials-science aspects of the project, and the next major step is to translate these validated laboratory results into scalable, pilot-relevant production routes while also developing battery designs that are compatible with practical cell assembly, component integration, and
demonstrator requirements. Because this technology is being developed with clear commercial intents, the candidate will gain deep insights into deep-tech patenting strategies, IP-transfer, business case formulation, and spinoff mechanics.
Unlike a traditional university research position, this role combines scientific excellence with technology transfer in a transfer technology company. The successful candidate is expected to actively contribute to the commercial development of the technology, working together with scientists, innovation managers and industrial partners to assess technical feasibility, market potential and future commercialization opportunities.
Proposed role & key focus areas
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Development of scalable synthesis routes for battery materials
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Optimization of process reproducibility and throughput
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Contribution to battery design, including electrode architecture, cell configuration, electrolyte compatibility, and component integration
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Translation of material-level advances into practically relevant cell designs
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Design and modelling of pilot-relevant reactor(s) and workflows
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Support of manufacturing-oriented process design for future demonstrator and industrial implementation
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Support technology transfer activities and interact with industrial partners
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Contribute to IP generation and patent-oriented technology development
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Participate in customer discovery and business model discussions
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Collaboration on techno-economic assessments (TEA) and commercial validation parameters to support the future spinoff pathway
