Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Innovative Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Production (REDEPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY)

Are you an experienced Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) looking to join our dynamic and collaborative team, working at the forefront of sustainable access to high-tech and energy-critical materials in the transition to the green economy research?

We are looking for a PDRA to join the high-tech and energy-critical materials Research Group and contribute to the delivery of the European Li4life project, which deals with the novel domestic battery-grade lithium carbonate value chain for green living. Li4life is a large Horizon Europe research project scheduled to run for three years, starting on January 1, 2024, with 18 partners across Europe, including both academic and industrial collaborators.

The project aims to develop an innovative, energy-efficient, and environmentally conscious scalable pilot plant for processing and refining lithium from underutilized battery raw materials deposits. This focus will be on both poor and complex ores and tailings, creating the necessary prerequisites for scaling. The project will ensure continuous operation, excellent co-recovery, and selectivity for lithium and other valuable elements such as Nb, Ta, Sn, Cs, REEs, Y, Sc.

This post is to support the University of Lincoln team in leading the Work Package (WP) on Green Chemistry-based approaches for downstream processing to produce Li2CO3. The primary objective is lithium extraction, purification, and Li2CO3 production. Within this exciting project WP and considering the complex nature of the selected lithium-bearing minerals, two different downstream processing approaches aligned with green chemistry will be applied: (i) Electrochemical-based processes, such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in combination with Electrodialysis (ED), and (ii) bioleaching. Additionally, the study will involve applying and developing cutting-edge analytical and characterization workflows.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse, international team of academics, research institutes, and relevant industrial partners from different European countries and around the world. Ideally, you should hold a PhD degree in a relevant field, such as material chemistry, chemistry, extractive metallurgy, material science, mineral engineering, or chemical engineering.

Informal inquiries are welcome and should be made to the Principal Investigator, Professor Yousef Ghorbani, at yghorbani@lincoln.ac.uk.

This is a redeployment opportunity for colleagues who have been placed at risk of redundancy only, which includes anyone on a fixed term contract which is due to end before 31st August 2024.