Assistant Professor in ‘Stabilization of sustainable, high performance organic photovoltaic devices’

University of Southern Denmark; Shire Of Denmark; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An international research university in Denmark is seeking an Assistant Professor focused on stabilization of high performance organic photovoltaic devices. This role includes research and teaching responsibilities in a dynamic environment. Ideal candidates should have a PhD and a strong publication record in relevant fields. The position offers a fully funded, three-year contract starting February 1, 2026.

Qualifications

• Proven strong track record of publications in organic solar cells.
• Experience in degradation and stabilization of organic molecules and devices.
• Synthesis of sustainable organic molecules and thin films.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with team members at SDU CAPE.
• Lead research in stabilization of organic devices.
• Teach courses at SDU and supervise students.
• Develop new concepts for stabilization of organic molecules.

Skills

Collaboration skills

Scientific communication in English

Education

PhD in relevant field (material science, chemistry, physics, electrical engineering)

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Southern Denmark Department Faculty of Engineering Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Other Positions Country Denmark Application Deadline 7 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Reference Number 3368 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Mads Clausen Institute, Center for Advanced Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Energy Devices (SDU CAPE) invites applications for a fully-funded Assistant Professor position in ’Stabilization of sustainable, high performance organic photovoltaic devices’. The starting date is Feb. 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, for a 3-year period.

What we offer

The Assistant Professor position is a part of the SDU CAPE research center, which aims to develop new sustainable photovoltaics and energy technologies using scalable and green processing techniques. This includes activities within degradation processes and stabilization techniques for organic molecules, thin-films and complete organic photovoltaic devices, to push the limits of new flexible thin film photovoltaics for the green energy transition. We offer an Assistant Professor position within a dynamic research environment that includes students, researchers and research engineers. The position includes both research and teaching responsibilities.

What we expect

Candidates who have a previous PhD degree in a field relevant to the mentioned area may seek the position (material science, chemistry, physics, electrical engineering and similar). You must have a proven strong track record of publications within the areas of e.g. organic solar cells or related organic technologies, degradation and stabilization of organic molecules and devices, synthesis of sustainable organic molecules and thin films, processing of organic photovoltaic devices. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the work, the candidates are expected to have excellent collaboration skills. A very good capability of communicating scientific results in English, both orally and in writing is required.

The Assistant Professor is thus expected to:

• Collaborate with other team members at SDU CAPE
• Take responsibility for and lead new research directions within the overall area of stabilization of sustainable, high performance organic photovoltaic devices
• Contribute to the development of new concepts for stabilization of organic molecules
• Contribute to the development of new device concepts based on green and sustainable organic semiconductor molecules
• Be responsible for teaching courses at SDU and supervise BSc, MSc and PhD students
• Contribute to obtaining funding for research and innovation projects
• Contribute to establishing and maintaining international collaborations

Workplace description / Research environment

We are an international research center working in the field of green energy technologies (CAPE), and we are looking for a highly motivated Assistant Professor to join our CAPE research centre at University of Southern Denmark (SDU), campus Sønderborg. We offer a modern, inclusive, international and interdisciplinary working environment with state‑of‑the‑art facilities as well as a strong tradition of international collaboration. Our ambition is, to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both academic excellence and departmental development.

Having a focus on thin film technologies for energy conversion and storage, the centre has full access to a surface science laboratory facility for the fabrication and characterization of thin films and photovoltaic devices, as well as a fully equipped Roll‑to‑Roll (R2R) facility for upscaling flexible devices. Collaboration partners from both academia and industry. SDU CAPE is also leading the new SDU Climate Cluster (SCC) Elite Center SOLEN, which span across four faculties at SDU to foster, in a cross‑disciplinary manner, new thin film solar energy conversion and storage technologies based on green and sustainable solutions.

Our research centre CAPE is a partner in various national and international research projects and networks that include

Contact information

For information about the Mads Clausen Institute, please see www.sdu.dk/en/mci.

Further information about this position is available from Professor Morten Madsen, e-mail: [e-mail].

Please be aware that we will not accept any email applications, as all applications must be submitted through the SDU online recruitment system.

Conditions of employment

The employment as Assistant Professor is temporally limited to 3 years. Depending on the availability of economic resources, it is planned to open up an Associate Professor position afterwards.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please check the links for more information on salary and taxation.

The faculty expects applicants to read How to apply before applying.

The application must be in English and must include the following - the required forms can be found at the abovementioned Faculty website :

• Research plan for the position in question (max. 2 pages). Upload in the field called "Project description".
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, including personal contact information, describing research, along with any other relevant information, e.g. teaching experience, external funding etc.
• Verified copies of official Certificates/Diplomas (BSc, MSc and PhD)
• List of publications with most relevant publications highlighted.
• Up to three names and emails of researchers, who can provide an informed reference letter at short notice (Reference letters and other relevant qualifications may also be included).

The application deadline is Dec. 7th, 2025 at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST).

The University of Southern Denmark was founded in 1966 and now as a multi‑campus university has more than 27,000 students, almost 20 % of whom are from abroad. It has more than 3,800 employees, and 115 different study programmes in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. Its main campus is located in Odense, while the newest campus is located in Sønderborg.

Sønderborg encompasses both a rural idyll and the pulse of the city centre. Here you will find magnificent nature with beautiful forest and a long coastline, which invites to versatile water activities, but it is in many ways a distinct study city - from the student discounts on the cafés´ menu, the shopping opportunities, a festive nightlife to an active and exciting study environment characterised by professional, cultural and social networks and events. And whether you are into sports, tango, art or jazz, you will find more than 700 voluntary associations and sports clubs to back you up and give the whole family ample opportunity to unfold and cultivate their interest. Sønderborg is also a model city in Denmark on energy sustainability, in which full CO₂ neutrality will be achieved in the year 2029. International applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment. International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Among other things, the staff answers questions concerning salary, taxation and housing. For further information on what it is like working at SDU, please read "10 good reasons why you should choose SDU". Additional information about working in Denmark can be found at Work in Denmark.

SDU is actively working with UN's 17 sustainable development goals, based on free, critical and independent research and education. The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their age, gender, religious affiliation or ethnicity, or any other personal background.