PhD in MSE (Battery Characterizations)

The Ren lab (Battery Energy Storage System Lab), located at the University of Central Florida, is dedicated to developing innovative solutions for energy storage and is currently inviting one motivated PhD student to join the lab in Fall, 2026. The student will be focused on developing multimodal characterization tools to understand the behaviors of both commerically-available/in-house developed battery cells. The newly established lab has state-of-the-art battery prototyping, testing, modeling equipment, and sufficient lab/office space. This is a fully funded position for 4 years, which includes stipend, tuition and insurance. The lab currently has one research assistant (an incoming PhD student) working on battery modeling and three undergraduate researchers working on experiments.
Responsibilities

• Conduct research in a fast-paced environment
• Deliver results, publish journal papers, and present at conferences
• Maintain the lab and collaborate with labmates and external collaborators

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering; the applicant is required to take the Callister Materials Science Engineering class or study the textbook before considering applying
• Previous research experience relevant to the energy system, publication is a plus
• Strong lab skills, including experience in prototyping, designing, and characterizations
• Fluent English communication and writing (>80 TOEFL score for international applicants)
• Strong motivation to pursue the PhD degree in the next 4 years