PhD in Surface Engineering of Flow Battery Electrodes at KTH (with Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Job Description

KTH’s School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health is recruiting a doctoral student in electrode surface engineering for flow batteries, a technology suited to stationary storage over eight hours or more. The project combines KTH’s electrode surface treatment with 2D transition-metal carbides and carbon nanofibre development at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), then builds a multiphysics model of electrode utilisation, current density and power limits. The student spends a year at SJTU’s China-UK Low Carbon College.

At a glance

• Position: Doctoral student (1 post), up to four years full time
• Subject: Chemical Science and Engineering
• Supervisors: Asst. Prof. Amirreza Khataee and Assoc. Prof. Ya Ji (proposed)
• Contacts: Amirreza Khataee, khat@kth.se; Ya Ji, jiya@sjtu.edu.cn
• Reference: PA-2026-2775
• Apply by: 30 September 2026
• Apply: 30 September 2026

About the flow battery PhD

• Treat electrode surfaces with 2D transition-metal carbides and study how surface properties affect power output
• Work with carbon nanofibre electrodes developed at SJTU
• Build a multiphysics model to predict electrode utilisation, current density distribution and power density limits
• Spend a year at the China-UK Low Carbon College, SJTU

What to include in your application

KTH asks for certified copies of diplomas, grades and English language certificates (with translations if needed), a CV, a letter of at most two pages on why you want to do research and how it links to your studies and goals, and representative publications or technical reports. Applications must arrive by midnight CET/CEST on the closing date.

How KTH doctoral employment works

Only applicants admitted to doctoral studies can be employed as doctoral students. The first contract is for up to one year and is then renewed for up to two years at a time, adding up to at most four years of full-time study. Up to 20% of working time may go to tasks such as teaching and administration. Applicants need English at the level of Swedish upper-secondary English B/6.

PhD applicants: browse our Find a supervisor directory to see who works in your area.

What KTH is looking for

• A master’s degree, or at least 240 credits including 60 at second-cycle level, or equivalent knowledge
• English equivalent to English B/6
• Interest in electrochemistry and batteries, with a foundation in materials characterisation

Nice to have

• Knowledge of electrochemistry and redox flow batteries

Pay and location

Doctoral students at KTH are salaried employees, paid monthly under KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement; the advert gives no figure. The post is full time in Stockholm, starting by agreement.

How to apply

Apply through the official KTH page. The closing date is 30 September 2026.

See all our PhD positions, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.