Research Fellow (Battery Shredding & Separation – SHREDDER)
Overview
The University of Birmingham is recruiting a Research Fellow to join the Energy Materials Group in the School of Metallurgy and Materials. The post sits within SHREDDER, an Innovate UK-funded collaborative project led by Ecobat Solutions UK Ltd in partnership with the university and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). The project tackles a key problem in UK lithium-ion battery recycling: conventional shredding produces mixed black mass in which graphite and metals are contaminated and hard to separate, so recoverable value is lost. SHREDDER treats shredding as an active, parameter-controlled separation step that frees high-value materials at source.
The contract is full time and fixed term until September 2029, working on site. The postholder will also analyse and interpret findings, help generate funding and support commercialisation.
What you will do
The fellow will operate and develop a bespoke instrumented research shredder, safely studying how blade speed, geometry, atmosphere, state of charge and moisture affect selective material liberation. Work also covers closed-loop wet shredding and additives that encourage graphite to separate from cathode material and metals, and characterisation of shredded cell components and separated fractions, including setting up new ICP-OES, SEM, XRD and XRF capability. The fellow will build validated datasets linking shredding parameters to graphite yield, purity and metal fraction quality, work with MTC and Ecobat to turn lab findings into industrial processes, and contribute to reporting to Innovate UK and project partners.
Requirements
Applicants need a Bachelor's degree in a relevant science or engineering discipline and a PhD, or to be close to completing one, in an area such as materials recycling, battery manufacture, particle or process engineering, chemistry or mechanical, electronic or chemical engineering. Experience in shredding, particle separation, battery safety or analytical characterisation is highly desirable, though training will be provided. Strong analytical ability, clear communication and interdisciplinary teamwork are expected.
What you get
The salary is normally in the range of 36,636 to 46,049 GBP per year at Grade 7, with potential progression to 48,822 GBP once in post.
Key dates
The closing date is 1 November 2026.