Project Officer - Battery Materials Characterisation

About the role

The Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), established in 2010, is a pan-university research institute focused on systems-level research for tropical megacities, covering the energy value chain from generation to end-use solutions. This Project Officer role supports the characterisation and evaluation of carbonaceous materials for lithium-ion and next-generation battery applications, working closely with the research team on the structure, morphology and electrochemical behaviour of materials such as graphite, hard carbon and conductive additives.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in characterising carbonaceous materials (graphite, hard carbon, soft carbon, graphene, carbon nanotubes) used in lithium-ion batteries.
• Support routine material characterisation using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, BET surface area analysis, SEM and TGA.
• Assist with battery electrode preparation and coin cell assembly.
• Conduct basic electrochemical testing: cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge testing and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
• Collect, organise and maintain experimental data and laboratory records.
• Prepare summaries, technical slides and reports for internal discussions.
• Support general laboratory operations, equipment maintenance and safety procedures.
• Work collaboratively with team members on battery materials research projects.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline (e.g. Nanotechnology, Physics, Electrochemistry).
• Basic knowledge of characterisation of carbonaceous or battery electrode materials; hands-on experience is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to support the team in multidisciplinary R&D projects.
• Excellent written and verbal English, with the ability to prepare technical reports and presentations.
• Collaborative, proactive and able to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.

Required skills

• Basic or prior knowledge of solid-state characterisation techniques (Raman, XRD, SEM/TEM, BET).
• Experience with Li-ion battery fabrication and electrochemical testing (coin cells, pouch cells, prototype assemblies) strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with surface functionalisation, defect engineering and doping strategies for carbon materials is an advantage.
• Evidence of scientific contribution in relevant research areas (e.g. FYP, URECA) is strongly preferred.