Research Fellow in PV Systems

University of South Hampton; Southampton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Southampton is seeking a Research Fellow to study temperature-dependent performance of photovoltaic modules in the field, leveraging an outdoor PV testing facility.

The successful candidate will lead a 24-month fixed-term project within the TACOS-PV program, collaborating with Oxford and NPL, and will perform high-precision spectral irradiance and temperature measurements with a strong publication track record expected.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent qualifications in Electronics and Electrical Engineering or Physics.
• Experience with spectroradiometry and instrumentation for irradiance and electrical power measurements.
• Strong experimental and data analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a year-long outdoor measurement campaign across multiple PV technologies.
• Develop high-precision in-situ module temperature measurement.
• Develop high time-resolution I-V tracing to extract temperature coefficients in the field.

Skills

Spectral irradiometry

Instrumentation

I-V tracing

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Electronics and Electrical Engineering or Physics

Job description

We are recruiting a Research Fellow to study the temperature-dependent performance of photovoltaic modules in the field. The post offers access to a unique outdoor PV testing facility at the University of Southampton.

The successful candidate will join the EPSRC-funded project "TACOS-PV: Temperature Analysis and Characterisation in Operational Solar PhotoVoltaics", a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford and Southampton and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Temperature effects are the largest source of energy loss in PV systems, yet current models were not developed for today's high-efficiency technologies. TACOS-PV will deliver new measurement methods and models for advanced PV, including TOPCon, heterojunction, tandem and bifacial modules. Industrial and international partners include Lightsource BP, RINA, PV Lighthouse, QEERI, UNSW, Oxford PV and NREL.

The successful candidate will lead a year-long outdoor measurement campaign across multiple PV technologies. This includes:

• developing high-precision in-situ module temperature measurement
• developing high time-resolution I-V tracing to extract temperature coefficients in the field
• using spectral irradiance data to improve ambient-to-cell temperature and energy yield models

The candidate will have a strong grounding in photovoltaic systems and a track record of journal publications. Essential experience includes spectroradiometry and instrumentation for irradiance and electrical power measurements, together with strong experimental and data analysis skills. Experience of outdoor PV testing, temperature metrology, energy yield modelling is advantageous.

This post is suitable for a candidate with a PhD* or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in Electronics and Electrical Engineering or Physics and is available to start from December 2026. The post is for a 24-month fixed term appointment.

Working at the University of Southampton:

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As a university we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and are proactive in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work. With a generous holiday allowance as well as additional university closure days we are committed to supporting our staff and students and open to a flexible working approach.