Jake Christensen, Ph.D.
Clean mobility - it’s electrifying!
I direct the Energy Technologies department at the Research and Technology Center in North America and am the Chief Battery Modeling Engineer. My team develops electrochemical devices for reliable, affordable electromobility and clean, efficient use of our natural resources. We elucidate complex phenomena through modeling and simulation from the atom to system scale, fundamental material property measurement, and operando characterization.
Curriculum vitae
- Department Director, Leading a team developing battery management systems and fuel cell technology
- Chief Expert, Battery Modeling, Developed advanced multiphysics models of battery performance, aging, and abuse
- Principal Engineer, Investigated high-energy Li/S, Li/air, and solid-state battery technologies
Selected publications
J. Christensen et al. (2013)
- J. Christensen; D. Cook; P. Albertus
- Journal of the Electrochemical Society, vol. 166, issue 5
Y. Zeng et al. (2013)
- Y. Zeng; P. Albertus; R. Klein; A. Kojic; M. Bazant; J. Christensen
- Journal of the Electrochemical Society, vol. 166, issue 5
J. Christensen et al. (2012)
- J. Christensen; P. Albertus; R. Sanchez-Carrera; T. Lohmann; B. Kozinsky; R. Liedtke; J. Ahmed; A. Kojic
- Journal of the Electrochemical Society, vol. 166, issue 5
N. Chaturvedi et al. (2010)
- N. Chaturvedi; R. Klein; J. Christensen; J. Ahmed; A. Kojic
- IEEE Control Systems Magazine, vol. 30, issue 3
Interview with Jake Christensen, Ph.D.
Director, Energy Systems and Materials and Chief Expert, Energy Storage Modeling
Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.
Research is about changing the reality of the world in which we live. It’s about making the unfathomable comprehensible, and the impossible possible. It is embarking on an opportunity to fail, repeatedly, while discovering truth along the way. And, with persistence and luck, it yields remarkable results.
What makes research done at Bosch so special?
Research at Bosch can be very fundamental, but at the same time disciplined. What can I make out of this discovery that will help humankind? What tangible product or service will millions or billions of people use every day? These are the questions that direct our efforts.
What research topics are you currently working on at Bosch?
Currently my team is, among other things, developing physics-based models and battery management systems for improving battery lifetime, safety, and charging rates in vehicles and consumer goods; discovering what limits lifetime and performance in fuel cells; and inventing electrochemical water purification devices. I’m fortunate to be working alongside dozens of exceptionally bright and creative individuals.
What are the biggest scientific challenges in your field of research?
Batteries, fuel cells, and other electrochemical devices are remarkably complex materials systems with phenomena occurring on a wide range of length- and timescales. There is an inherent tension between the critical objectives of performance, lifetime, size, and cost for each technology. Typically, not one, but dozens of challenges need to be solved to create a competitive product.
How do the results of your research become part of solutions "Invented for life"?
Not only do we need to ensure that our products are durable (often at least a 15-year lifetime), we ultimately want to improve the lives of our customers. That means getting people where they need to be and doing what they need to do without compromising the global environment for future generations. Vehicle electrification plays a significant role.
Get in touch with me
Jake Christensen, Ph.D.
Director, Energy Technologies and Chief Expert, Energy Storage Modeling
