Join our group in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University: PhD student positions in the areas of the safety & health of battery energy storage systems. We are looking for two PhD-level graduate students in the background of mechanical design, sensors, energy systems, and advanced materials to join our group to work on industry-oriented projects, starting 09/2025.1. Design of next-generation battery energy storage systems2. Early warning of battery faults in extreme conditions* About our research: We work in the broad areas of battery energy storage systems, mechanics of advanced materials and structures, and applications of scientific machine learning. We not only advance the fundamental sciences to solve engineering problems but also develop technologies to change the world! Currently, our group is being supported by Hyundai, Shell, and Saint-Gobain through our Center for Battery Sustainability with MIT; as well as NASA, Ford, Toyota North America, and LG Energy Solution. We are also closely working with the local battery & energy industry in the Boston area and multiple national labs.* About our group: We are a two-year-old group led by a 'young investigator'. Currently, we have 1 research scientist, 3 postdoctoral researchers, 2 PhD students, 2 incoming PhD students, 2-4 MS students (uncertainty arising from students' co-ops and internships), and 4+ undergraduate students. Here is the link to our group website: https://www.zhujuner.com/.* About the two positions: Both positions will be working very closely with our industrial partners to develop real-world technologies to regulate the operating conditions of Li-ion batteries by implementing cost-effective commercial sensors and re-designing battery modules and packs. The students will leverage our group's pioneering understanding of electro-chemo-mechanics to 'reinvent' the existing battery energy storage systems. For both positions, the love/motivation for hands-on system design & development, experimentation, and invention is highly desired!* What's special about our PhD students' training: All our PhD students are encouraged to have 2 times of internships in the industry. Thanks to our strong connections with the EV/battery/energy industry, we are in a good position to help our students seek out opportunities and successfully land a position. * How to apply: Please send your CV/resume to Prof. Juner Zhu ([email protected]) for advice before formal application to the department. A friendly reminder to all applicants: I read every email even including those in my junk mailbox, and it is impossible to reply to everyone. So, please don't send weekly reminders if your email is not replied. Thanks! ??…more