Postdoc Recycling of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

Advance innovative electrochemical recycling of lithium iron phosphate batteries. Join this collaborative 10-month Postdoc project and help accelerate the transition to a circular battery value chain by recovering critical raw materials through cutting-edge electrochemical research in close partnership with industry.

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.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 10 Months Temporary
• A job of 38 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Mahinder Ramdin via m.ramdin@tudelft.nl. For information about the application procedure, please contact the faculty recruitment team, email: recruitment-me@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 March 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• A letter of motivation.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• The certificate of PhD degree, and English proficiency certificate if available.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.