Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Robotics - Automated Disassembly of Electric Vehicle Batteries

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About the position

A fixed-term 100% position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Robotics, affiliated to the Department of Engineering Sciences, for a period of two years. The position is located at Campus Grimstad. The starting date is negotiable with the Faculty.

The successful applicant will become part of  Top Research Centre in Mechatronics at UiA, in collaboration with Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research, UiA and partners from the HORIZON EUROPE project named RHINOCEROS (Batteries reuse and direct production of high performances cathodic and anodic materials and other raw materials from batteries recycling using low cost and environmentally friendly technologies). Rhinoceros will develop, improve, and demonstrate, in an industrially relevant environment, an economically and environmentally viable route for re-using, re-purposing, re-conditioning, and recycling of End-of-Life EV and stationary batteries.


Responsibilities

The focus of this post doctoral fellowship is to employ most recent mechatronics techniques to optimise and automate a dismantling process of EV batteries. The cognitive agent will send primitive actions that will serve as input in the dismantling process, where necessary tools are chosen to carry out the related steps that can be assigned to the various operations. AI based action selection scheme is required to decide on the sequence of operations and to define a path, where different tools must be used according to the dismantling task. The robotic system will be able to recognise and adapt to any (known or unknown) Lithium Ion-Battery (LIB). The goals are to develop advanced re/de-manufacturing technologies, with particular interest in the development of smart manufacturing tools, including manufacturing information and management systems, data sensing, computer vision, robotics, and machine learning, where machine learning is not a part of the Post-Doctoral Fellowship.


Required qualifications

Further provisions relating to the positions as Post-doctoral Research Fellows can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

  • Doctoral degree in mechatronics, robotics, computer science, information technology or related field. Potential applicants must have had their theses approved by the time of the application deadline
  • Proven publication record in Robotics, Computer Science, or other related technical fields
  • Expert level in software frameworks and tools, such as Tensorflow/Pytorch, OpenCV, ROS, Matlab, Python, C, C++
  • Experience in perception, object recognition (segmentation, clustering, localisation), collision avoidance and motion control.
  • Experience in robotic instrumentation including sensors and tools.
  • Excellent skills and knowledge of algorithms used in signal processing.
  • Written and spoken English proficiency.

Desired qualifications

  • Experience in supervision of Bachelor, Master student projects.
  • Experience in industrial battery modelling.
  • It is hoped that applicants will have presented their theses during the last five years.

Emphasis will be placed upon the project description and the relevance it has with regard to the subject in question and the research environment at the Faculty.


Personal qualities

  • Ability to work independently and proactively for goal-oriented research
  • Have good teamwork skills and inventiveness, and a proactive hands-on approach
  • Close working relationships with both the industrial and academic partners
  • Good analytical skills
  • Applicants are expected to contribute to a safe and inclusive working environment.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills in an academic setting.

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised.


We offer

  • professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
  • a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
  • modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers  
  • membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.510, code 1352 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, NOK 563 900 – 626 100 gross salary per year. Higher salary grades may be considered for particularly well-qualified applicants. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.


General information

UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply for the position. 

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right. 


Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

  • Certificates with grades
  • List of publications
  • Doctoral thesis
  • Up to 10 academic articles and R&D projects which the candidate wishes to particularly emphasise for the assessment process.
  • A description of the applicant’s research interests, the background for the thesis question that the applicant wishes to work on, and its relevance for the advertised position. A brief overview of relevant research pertaining to the design of assignments and relevant issues for research should also be included here.
  • A preliminary research proposal for automated disassembly of spent Lithium-Ion batteries from electric vehicles (max. 3 pages) including reference list. The outline should present and discuss possible research questions, theory perspectives, material, and a progress plan.
  • Any other relevant documentation

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation including the preliminary research proposal before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English.

Application deadline: 31.08.23


Contact

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