Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow (Chemical Engineering/Materials Science/Mechanical Engineering)

Established in 2010, the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) is a pan-university research institute that focuses on systems-level research for tropical megacities. It performs translational research that covers the energy value chain from generation to innovative end-use solutions, motivated by industrialisation and deployment. ERI@N has multiple Interdisciplinary Research Programmes which focus on translational Research, Development & Deployment which focus on specific area of the energy value chain, and a number of Living labs and Testbeds which facilitate large scale technology deployment enabling validation and demonstration of real-world applications.

For more details, please view https://www.ntu.edu.sg/erian

ERI@N is seeking an experienced and motivated Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow to join our Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies programme, contributing to a flagship research project on next-generation Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) stack design and prototyping. The Research Fellow will provide critical experimental, fabrication, and testing support for the development of advanced VRFB components - focusing on bipolar plates and flow field architectures - with the aim of significantly improving power density, durability, and cost-effectiveness of flow battery systems for grid-scale energy storage. This role is ideal for a candidate with strong hands-on laboratory skills and an interest in electrochemical energy technologies. The successful candidate will work closely with senior researchers and industry partners to translate research findings into prototype components, contributing to the advancement of flow battery systems for grid-scale energy storage and Singapore's energy transition.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the research and development of next-generation VRFB stack components, including bipolar plate material selection, flow field design, drawing on fuel cell stack design principles.

• Conduct comprehensive material screening and characterisation for bipolar plates, evaluating graphite-based composites and coated metallic substrates (titanium alloys, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys) for corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and mechanical strength in vanadium-containing electrolytes.

• Design and optimise novel flow field architectures using bio-inspired and hybrid design approaches, and perform computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics and/or ANSYS Fluent to evaluate velocity distribution, pressure drop, mass transfer efficiency, and thermal dissipation.

• Develop and validate integrated multi-physics models for VRFB cells and stacks, simultaneously resolving fluid dynamics, thermal behaviour, and mechanical stress to predict and optimise operational performance.

• Investigate the feasibility of dual-stack systems capable of functioning as both fuel cells and VRFBs, assessing material compatibility and performance under dual operational modes.

• Perform electrochemical characterisation including potentiodynamic polarisation, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to evaluate component performance.

• Collaborate closely with industry partners on prototyping, fabrication, and validation of optimised designs, and contribute to the scaling of VRFB technology from 5 kW to 50-100 kW.

• Publish research findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, and contribute to intellectual property development.

• Supervise and mentor junior researchers, research engineers, and postgraduate students within the project team.

• Prepare progress reports, milestone deliverables, and contribute to future research proposals and grant applications

Job Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Strong research background in electrochemical energy systems, with demonstrated expertise in fuel cells, redox flow batteries, or related electrochemical technologies.

• Proven experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and/or multi-physics modelling using COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS Fluent, or equivalent simulation platforms.

• Hands-on experience in materials characterisation techniques including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarisation, mechanical testing, and thermal analysis.

• Knowledge of bipolar plate materials, membrane technologies (particularly hydrocarbon-based membranes), and electrode materials for electrochemical applications.

• Track record of publications in reputable peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Experience in project management and the ability to coordinate research activities across multiple work streams.

• Candidates with prior industry experience in energy storage or fuel cell systems are particularly encouraged to apply

We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.