Postdoctoral Research Associate in Solar Cell Characterisation

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in the UK seeks a highly motivated Research Associate for a 12-month position in Oxford. The successful candidate will contribute to the TACOS-PV project, focusing on the temperature-dependent behaviour of advanced solar materials. Candidates should hold or be nearing completion of a PhD/DPhil in a relevant field and possess strong analytical and communication skills. The role involves collaboration with the University of Southampton and NPL.

Qualifications

• PhD/DPhil in a relevant discipline, or close to obtaining.
• Experience in electrical or optical characterisation of semiconductors.
• Proven record of publication.

Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced temperature-dependent characterisation of solar technologies.
• Develop physical models of charge transport and recombination.
• Work collaboratively with the University of Southampton and NPL.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Experience with semiconductors

Data analysis

Education

PhD/DPhil in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to join the Electronic and Interface Materials Laboratory at the Department of Materials, University of Oxford, for a 12-month fixed-term position under the supervision of Professor Ruy Sebastian Bonilla. The successful candidate will play a key role in the TACOS-PV (Temperature Analysis and Characterisation in Operational Solar Photovoltaics) project, contributing to world‑leading research on the temperature‑dependent behaviour of advanced solar materials and devices. This role offers the opportunity to work across experimental characterisation, data analysis, and modelling, in collaboration with the University of Southampton and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

With a background in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering, you will be an enthusiastic and self‑driven researcher able to plan and deliver high‑quality scientific work. You will hold (or be close to obtaining) a PhD/DPhil in a relevant discipline and have experience in the electrical or optical characterisation of semiconductors or photovoltaic devices. You will possess strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills, a proven record of publication, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Working within the TACOS‑PV consortium, you will investigate how temperature influences the performance of modern solar technologies, including silicon, perovskite, and tandem devices. You will conduct advanced temperature‑dependent characterisation, develop physical models of charge transport and recombination, and help integrate empirical data into system‑level simulations. The project involves close collaboration with the University of Southampton on system modelling and NPL on advanced optical and thermal metrology, contributing to a UK‑wide effort to improve the accuracy of PV energy yield prediction.