Job Description

The role

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This is an exciting opportunity to join the University of Bristol on a Faraday Institution Sprint-funded project, developing Battery Model Validation Standards (BMVS). The project is a collaboration with About:Energy, bringing together academic expertise and industrial insights to establish best practices in battery model validation. The research will focus on the development, testing, and validation of battery models, ensuring they accurately reflect real-world battery behaviour and can be relied upon across industry applications. The successful candidate will work at the interface between modelling and experimental validation, using real-world datasets to assess model reliability and define robust validation frameworks.


The position is based within the Electrical Energy Management Group (EEMG), a world-leading research team focused on low-carbon electrical systems. The post-holder will work closely with About:Energy to ensure that the research outputs are aligned with industry needs and will contribute to the development of open-access tools for the wider battery modelling community.

What will you be doing?

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You will be responsible for developing battery models, ensuring that they are validated against high-quality experimental data. This will involve implementing and refining equivalent circuit and electrochemical models, performing systematic validation studies, and assessing the suitability of different validation metrics. You will analyse experimental datasets to benchmark model performance and identify sources of error or uncertainty in the validation process. A key aspect of the role will be working with industry stakeholders, including About:Energy, to ensure that the validation standards developed in this project are fit for purpose and applicable across different sectors. In addition, you will contribute to the development of open-access tools and validation methodologies, helping to define best practices for battery model validation. You will be expected to publish research findings in leading journals, present at international conferences, and collaborate closely with partners to maximise the impact of the research. The role may also involve supervising students and supporting the broader activities of the research group.

You should apply if

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You have a PhD, are close to completing a PhD, or have equivalent experience, in engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or a related discipline.



You should have experience in model validation, includingworking with experimental datasets to assess model accuracy.



Proficiency in Python (or MATLAB) is required, and a familiarity with battery modelling frameworks such as PyBaMM, COMSOL, or similar is desirable.



The ability to work with experimental battery data, assess validation methodologies, and critically evaluate model performance is essential.



Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, alongside excellent communication abilities and a track record of publishing high-quality research, are also required. It would be advantages if you have experience working with industry partners and/or familiarity with open-source modelling tools and data repositories.

Additional information

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For informal queries please contact:

Dr Alastair Hales (a.hales@bristol.ac.uk) or Dr Mark Blyth (m.blyth@bristol.ac.uk)

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineering.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/category/engineering-includes-me/

Contract type: Fixed term until 31st March 2026

Work pattern:

Full time

Grade:

I / J

Salary: Grade I 38,249 - 44,128 per annum; Grade J 42,882 - 48,149 per annum

School/Unit: School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering

This advert will close

at

23:59 UK time

on

7th May 2025

Interviews are expected to take place on 15th May 2025.

Our strategy and mission

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We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an

inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential.

We want

to attract, develop, and retain individuals

with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.


JOB NUMBER###

ACAD108076

CONTRACT TYPE/WORK PATTERN###

Fixed-term / Full time

POSTING END DATE###

07 May 2025

FACULTY/DIVISION###

Faculty of Engineering

SALARY###

Grade I 38,249 - 44,128 per annum; Grade J 42,882 - 48,149 per annum