Professor of Chemical Engineering

Lund University

Faculty of Engineering (LTH)
Department of Process and Life Science Engineering (PLE)

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. It has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff across Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö.

The Faculty of Engineering (LTH) works to educate people, build knowledge for the future, and contribute to societal development through research, innovation, and education.

Description of the Workplace

The Department of Process and Life Science Engineering (PLE) is located at Kemicentrum, one of the Nordics’ largest centres for education and research in chemistry.

PLE has approximately:

• 150 employees
• ~65 PhD students

The department covers:

• chemical engineering
• food technology
• biotechnology
• technical microbiology

Research and education span the full subject of chemistry across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

PLE promotes open communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement through regular meetings and structured dialogue on workplace safety and development.

COMPEL Initiative

The position is part of the strategic initiative:

COMPEL (COMPetence for the ELectrification of the transport system)

A Swedish government-funded initiative involving:

• Chalmers University of Technology
• Uppsala University
• Lund University
• Swedish industry partners

COMPEL focuses on strengthening research and education in:

• battery technology
• electrification of transport
• materials and cell development
• recycling and safety
• system integration

At Lund, COMPEL involves ten departments and focuses on:

• materials research
• battery–power electronics integration
• safe energy storage

Subject Area

Chemical Engineering – Electrochemical Processes

The subject focuses on:

• electrochemical processes in batteries
• ageing and degradation mechanisms in battery cells
• modelling and experimental analysis of battery performance
• electrode/electrolyte materials and interfaces
• development of future battery chemistries

Key research components include:

• operando / in situ / online analytical methods
• electrode–electrolyte interface characterization
• linkage to large-scale facilities such as MAX IV
• laboratory automation and AI/machine learning for experimental design
• data-driven battery materials development

Work Duties

• Conduct research in chemical engineering (battery electrochemistry focus)
• Teach at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels
• Supervise degree projects and PhD students
• Actively apply for external research funding
• Collaborate with industry and wider society
• Perform administrative duties related to teaching, research, and leadership

Qualification Requirements

Applicants must have:

• Demonstrated research expertise
• Demonstrated teaching expertise
• At least five weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning (or equivalent)

Assessment Criteria

Research & Teaching (primary importance given to research)

• Very strong national and international research standing
• Very high level of teaching expertise across levels and methods
• Ability to supervise doctoral students successfully
• Ability to collaborate with wider society and communicate research
• Strong leadership and ability to develop academic activities

Additional Requirements

• Excellent English (spoken and written)
• Strong research experience (postdoc/industry/PhD level)
• Experience in industry/public sector collaboration
• Proven leadership experience in research environments
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Subject-Specific Profile

The role emphasizes:

• battery electrochemistry and ageing mechanisms
• operando and in situ measurement techniques
• electrode–electrolyte interface science
• scalable battery manufacturing processes
• AI- and data-driven experimental design
• integration of materials, cell chemistry, and system engineering

Teaching includes electrochemistry, chemical process engineering, and battery technology, with increasing emphasis on Swedish-language instruction over time.

What the University Offers

Lund University provides:

• generous annual leave
• favourable pension scheme
• strong research infrastructure
• access to large-scale facilities (e.g. MAX IV)
• collaboration with industry and academia
• government employee benefits

More information:
Working at Lund University

Application Instructions

Applications must be written in English and follow LTH’s academic qualifications portfolio format.

Required documents:

• CV
• academic portfolio (per LTH guidelines)
• publications and research output
• documentation of teaching and leadership experience

Position Details

• Type: Permanent position
• Employment: Full-time (100%)
• Location: Lund
• Start: According to agreement
• Reference: PA2026/617
• Closing date: 22 June 2026

Contact

• Ola Wallberg, Professor
  Email: ola.wallberg@ple.lth.se

Union representatives:

• SACO: kansli@saco-s.lu.se
• OFR/ST: st@st.lu.se

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Engineering (LTH) at Lund University:

• ~12,000 students
• ~2,000 scientific publications per year
• strong focus on technology, architecture, and design
• extensive industry collaboration and innovation output