Institute Director Prof. Dr. Simon Lux

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Simon Lux studied “Technical Chemistry/Chemical Engineering” at the Graz University of Technology from September 2002 to July 2008 and graduated with a Dipl.-Ing./Master of Science. After his master's degree, he completed a doctoral program at the MEET Battery Research Center at University of Münster from September 2008 to November 2011 and received his PhD on the topic “Towards greener batteries: Aqueous cathode processing, analysis of binder interactions and alternative electrolytes.” Following his doctorate, Simon Lux spent several years as a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, USA, from November 2011 to August 2013. There he investigated, among other things, degradation phenomena on surfaces in lithium-ion cells and developed novel test methods for the rapid detection of failure mechanisms and capacity losses in electrochemical energy storage devices. 

After his time as a postdoctoral researcher, Simon Lux joined the BMW Group Technology Office in California, USA, in August 2013, first as Senior Advanced Battery Technology Engineer and later as Team Lead Advanced Powertrain Research Group in Silicon Valley. The focus of his team was on the development of novel electric powertrains as well as alternative business models for lithium-ion batteries used in the automotive industry. He also led and coordinated lithium-ion battery technology projects for the NAFTA region from raw material to battery cell.

In May 2017, Simon Lux moved to Munich, where he continued his career at BMW in the development area of e-drives and battery cell technology. As Specialist Powertrain/Cell Development, his responsibilities there included the development of cross-functional mechanical and electrochemical cell designs, as well as the introduction of production technologies for next-generation lithium-ion cells for motor vehicles. As Senior Technical Expert High-Voltage Systems and Cell Development, his focus was on integrally ensuring the safety of high-voltage storage systems from the individual lithium-ion cell to the entire battery pack.

In the summer of 2022, Simon Lux rejoined the scientific field. Since August 2022, he has been a member of the Institute Management of the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production Cell FFB and of the Executive Board of the "FoFeBat" project. In addition, he has since held the Chair of Applied Electrochemical Energy Storage Technology and Economic Chemistry at University of Münster.