Leiting Zhang

Uppsala University is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in unsupervised machine learning for battery timeseries data, supervised by Assistant Professors Jens Sjölund and Leiting Zhang. The position is part of the COMPEL initiative, focusing on the electrification of the transport system and battery development. The research aims to develop interpretable machine learning methods for extracting dynamical models of battery degradation from multimodal timeseries data, including high-frequency acoustic emission and electrochemical measurements. The project emphasizes moving beyond black-box prediction by learning low-dimensional latent representations that capture underlying physical processes in batteries, such as particle fracture and gas evolution. Methodological components may include self-supervised temporal representation learning, switching state-space models, and neural ODE-based latent dynamics. The research will contribute to mechanistic insight and enable interpretable battery health diagnostics and prognostics. The position is based at the Division of Systems and Control, Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, which is known for its interdisciplinary research in control theory, machine learning, optimization, and network science, with applications in energy systems, biomedical systems, and more. Applicants must have a PhD in machine learning, automatic control, system identification, signal processing, applied mathematics, battery systems, or a related field, with a strong technical background in relevant areas. Experience in programming, a record of publication in top venues, and proficiency in English are required. The position is fully funded for two years, with a competitive salary and the possibility of up to 20% teaching. The application deadline is February 2, 2026, and the expected start date is March 1, 2026, or as agreed. Applications should be submitted through Uppsala University's recruitment system and include a CV, grade documents, publication list, selected publications, research statement, proposal for future activities, and references. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of machine learning, battery technology, and dynamical systems, offering a collaborative and international environment at one of Sweden's leading universities.

Uppsala University is offering a postdoctoral position in machine learning for battery timeseries data at the Department of Information Technology. The research is part of the COMPEL initiative, a strategic Swedish government program focused on advancing battery development and the electrification of the transport sector. The project aims to develop unsupervised machine learning methods for extracting dynamical models of battery degradation from multimodal timeseries data, emphasizing interpretability and mechanistic insight. The data includes high-frequency acoustic emission and electrochemical measurements from operating batteries, targeting complex processes such as particle fracture and gas evolution. The research will involve self-supervised temporal representation learning, switching state-space models, and neural ODE-based latent dynamics to analyze large volumes of unlabeled data. The goal is to create an integrated framework for interpretable battery health diagnostics and prognostics, advancing the understanding of battery aging and enabling real-time monitoring. The project is highly interdisciplinary, integrating expertise from machine learning, control theory, optimization, and network science, and is supervised by Assistant Professors Jens Sjölund (machine learning) and Leiting Zhang (battery sensing). Applicants must have a PhD in machine learning, automatic control, system identification, signal processing, applied mathematics, battery systems, or a related field, with strong technical skills and a record of publications in top venues. Proficiency in programming and excellent English are required. The position is full-time for two years, with a fixed salary, and may include up to 20% teaching. The application deadline is February 2, 2026, and the expected start date is March 1, 2026. For more information, contact the supervisors at [email protected] and [email protected]. To apply, submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system, including a CV, grade documents, publication list, selected publications, research statement, and references. Uppsala University offers a collaborative and international research environment, with strong support for interdisciplinary work and career development.