Postdoc bipolar membrane development for acid-base flow battery systems

Job Description

Energy storage is an indispensable factor for bridging the electricity consumption with the intermittent renewable energy supply. Electricity grids face significant challenges in balancing economic growth with sustainability targets. Rapid electrification across industrial, transport, commercial, and residential sectors strains existing grid infrastructure, leading to congestion and transmission bottlenecks. These issues limit the integration of renewable energy. Long-duration energy storage (LDES), that provide 8+ hours of storage, can balance intermittent production and demand, thereby stabilizing the grid, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and ensuring more effective use of renewable energy. TenneT expects 4.9 GW of large-scale battery storage is required in The Netherlands by 2030, while there was only 0.14 GW installed in 2023. Hence, a rapid scale-up of LDES is needed.

In that light, we started a collaborative project, with universities (TU Delft, UTwente, TU/Eindhoven, HAN) and companies (AQUABATTERY, Elestor, Exergy Storage, RWE, Nobian), to develop batteries for long-duration energy storage. Specifically, this postdoc position focuses on acid-base flow batteries, and more specifically the stack engineering in this system. Acid-base flow batteries are based on dissociating water into acid and base during charging, using bipolar membranes, and recombining acid and base in this membrane to retrieve electrical energy.

We're looking for an excellent postdoc, with strong membrane development skills, to study development of bipolar membranes for acid-base flow batteries. In close collaboration with researchers at TU/Eindhoven and AQUABATTERY, we'll develop new bipolar membranes with high water dissociation efficiency, low resistance, and high selectivity. You'll develop new materials and new configurations to improve the membrane performance, and you'll analyze the directions for improvement. You'll also study possible other membrane-related aspects and other applications for the same materials. Part of the job is to educate students in courses related to the research.

In case you're interested in working with flow batteries for long-duration energy storage, and not particularly in bipolar membrane development, please feel free to also look at other vacancies posted at the same time in the framework of the REDOX BLEND project.

Requirements

We're looking for a candidate with:

• A PhD degree, in chemical engineering or applied chemistry
• Proven experience in working with bipolar membranes
• Proven experience in nanostructures and catalytic membranes
• An excellent publication record
• Pro-active and creative mind-set
• Fluent in English. Speaking Dutch is a plus
• Starting date October 2026

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 year. Temporary.
• A job of 32-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact David Vermaas, via [email protected].

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 28 July 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to David Vermaas.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
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