Hammad Farooq

PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering with hands-on R&D experience in lithium-ion battery recycling, hydrometallurgical separation, lithium recovery, process development, and advanced material characterization. Experienced in designing and optimizing laboratory-scale experiments for complex secondary raw materials. Strong background in black mass characterization, graphite and cathode-material separation, lithium recovery from aqueous streams by ion exchange, technical reporting, data analysis, HSE, and collaboration with industrial partners.

Intern – Research Group - Vianode - Kristiansand, Norway

(2025-09 - 2025-11)

• Developed XRD quantitative analysis and SEM image-analysis workflows for classifying industrial carbon raw materials and assessing crystalline/morphological quality indicators.
• Prepared electrode slurries using CMC/SBR binder systems and performed slurry mixing, casting, drying/calendaring, coin-cell assembly, and electrochemical cell testing.
• Connected characterization results with electrochemical performance and process-relevant quality criteria in an industrial R&D environment.
• Prepared and communicated technical results for internal R&D discussions and process-development decisions.

Project Engineer – Industrial Project - Norwegian University of Science and Technology - Trondheim, Norway

(2025-03)

• Develop hydrometallurgical recycling flowsheets for complex end-of-life lithium-ion battery black mass containing metals, carbon, polymers, and Si-based components.
• Design, perform, and optimize laboratory-scale separation experiments involving high-temperature treatment, leaching, solid-liquid separation, filtration, solvent treatment, and froth flotation.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and documentation for industrial partners.
• Participate in technical discussions with academic and industrial stakeholders and support development of potential intellectual property.

Lab Engineer – 25% during PhD - Norwegian University of Science and Technology - Trondheim, Norway

(2022-02 - 2025-02)

• Maintained lab and instruments, developed protocols and safety procedures, and trained new users.
• Supported HSE compliance, laboratory organization, troubleshooting, and method implementation.
• Contributed to externally funded and industry-related experimental work requiring reliable documentation and reproducible procedures.

Project Engineer – Industrial Project - Norwegian University of Science and Technology - Trondheim, Norway

(2021-01 - 2021-12)

• Researched direct synthesis of methylchlorosilanes, a precursor for silicones.
• Applied material characterization and wet-chemical methods such as Soxhlet extraction.
• Used XRD, Raman, ATR-FTIR, SEM/EDS, TGA/MS, and Soxhlet extraction to investigate phase composition, carbon formation, and reaction products.

PhD - Chemical Engineering - Norwegian University of Science and Technology (2022-05)

MSc - Chemical Engineering - Norwegian University of Science and Technology (2018-08 - 2020-12)