Postdoc Sustainability of PV

Do you want to make photovoltaics circular?

The current transition towards using renewable energy implies a transition towards the increased demand of different raw materials as well. How can the supply of sufficient materials for solar panels, batteries, etc. be met to scale renewable energy technologies with such low environmental impact that we keep below 1.5 degrees warming and reach a CO2 neutral society by 2050?

In this research line, we aim at contributing to the development of circular PV. We are part of the winning bid of three European Projects to develop the next generation of advanced silicon solar cells. We are looking for PostDoc to lead our efforts in the sustainability work packages covering life cycle assessment, supply and circularity evaluation for the PV technologies under development.

You will work with Malte Vogt and Olindo Isabella in the Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD) group as part of the Electrical Sustainable Energy (ESE) department. The program of the PVMD group builds up expertise in the design and fabrication technology from solar cells to PV systems with their power electronics and storage options. The ESE department’s research activities aim at accelerating the energy transition towards sustainable energy. You will contribute to the climate action program in theme II on climate change mitigation in the flagship project “Materials for circular renewable energy technologies”.

At TU Delft you will join our internationally diverse Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD) Group. Proud to be among the global academic leaders in our field, we are an ambitious, friendly and supportive team of professors, lecturers and technical and support staff. We share ideas and knowledge, and give you all the training and coaching you need to evolve and grow your career in this tenure track. You will contribute to our team’s results as your devices will be used in various research projects. We share a drive to build solar cells and other devices based on thin semiconductor films, including amorphous and nano-crystalline silicon films, crystalline silicon and perovskites.

About the department

The PVMD group is part of the Electrical Sustainable Energy department which is inspired by the technical, scientific, and societal challenges originating from the transition towards a more sustainable society and focuses on four areas:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)
• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)
• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)
• High Voltage Technologies (HVT)

The Electrical Sustainable Energy Department provides expertise in each of these areas throughout the entire energy system chain. The department owns the large Electrical Sustainable Power (ESP) Laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, DC Grids testing environment, and a large RTDS that is actively used for real-time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection, and wide-area monitoring and protection. 

We are acutely aware that we are a diverse society and not every talented applicant will have had the same opportunities to advance their careers. We therefore pledge to fully account for any particular circumstances that the applicants disclose (e.g. parental leave, caring duties, part-time jobs to support studies, disabilities etc.) to ensure an inclusive and fair recruitment process that does not rely purely on common research metrics.

The successful applicant will have:

• PhD degree in physics, chemistry, material science, industrial ecology, or a related discipline
• Expertise in one of the following areas: Life cycle assessment, material supply evaluation or circularity of PV modules
• Publications in relevant research journals
• Experience with guiding students’ thesis projects
• Ability to work independently and self-driven in a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills in English, both in writing and speaking

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact

• Dr. Malte Ruben Vogt, +31 (0)15 27 87032, [email protected]
• Prof. dr. Olindo Isabella, +31 (0)15 27 81947, [email protected]

For information about the selection procedure, please contact Brenda Reyes, Management Assistant, email: [email protected]

 Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply by March 31st 2024 at the latest via the application button and upload your:

• Application letter addressed to dr. Malte Vogt that explains your personal motivation in pursuing a postdoctorate and fit to the job requirements;
• Curriculum vitae (CV) with a list of (academic and/or industry) references that we can contact;
• Qualification evidence including latest degrees and transcripts.

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.