Research Officer - READY-PV

Swansea University; Swansea; Remote; GBP 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Swansea University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to the Horizon Europe READY-PV project. The role involves supporting indoor and outdoor photovoltaic reliability testing and providing research infrastructure access to external users, with work on emerging PV devices such as perovskite and organic PV.

The successful candidate will help deliver the READY-PV outcomes at Swansea University, including experimental setup, data collection, initial analysis, and

Job description

Swansea University is a research-led university that has been making a difference since 1920. The University community thrives on exploration and discovery and offers the right balance of excellent teaching and research, matched by an enviable quality of life.

Our stunning waterfront campuses and multicultural community make us a desirable workplace for colleagues from around the world. Our reward and benefits, and ways of working enable those who join us to have enriching careers, matched by an excellent work-life balance.

About The Role

Swansea University is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to the European Horizon Europe project READY-PV - Reliability Evaluation Through Analytics and Data for Emerging Technology in Photovoltaics.

READY-PV is a pan-European research infrastructure project designed to accelerate the development of reliable and durable emerging photovoltaic (PV) technologies. The project brings together research infrastructures across Europe and beyond to provide access to advanced facilities for indoor and outdoor ageing, PV performance assessment, materials characterisation, degradation analysis and data-driven modelling.

The successful candidate will contribute to Swansea University's role within the project, with particular responsibility for supporting indoor and outdoor photovoltaic reliability testing and the provision of research infrastructure access to external users. The role will involve experimental work on emerging PV technologies, including perovskite and organic photovoltaic devices, as well as the collection, analysis and interpretation of performance and environmental data.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the delivery of the READY-PV project at Swansea University, with a particular focus on providing Transnational Access to Swansea's photovoltaic testing and reliability facilities. The role will involve supporting indoor and outdoor performance, durability and degradation testing of emerging PV devices and modules, monitoring their performance under extended exposure and assessing relationships with environmental conditions. The researcher will also contribute to encapsulation and lamination activities, the design and maintenance of outdoor testing facilities, and the implementation of harmonised experimental procedures and reliability protocols. They will support external READY-PV users in planning and conducting experiments at Swansea, including experimental setup, measurements, data collection and initial analysis, while contributing to project meetings, training, workshops and dissemination activities. The role will also involve preparing technical reports, research papers and presentations, and working collaboratively with academic, research infrastructure and industrial partners across the READY-PV consortium.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

As an inclusive and welcoming workplace, we value people for their skills regardless of their background. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh. Applicants for a role where Welsh skills are essential are expected to present their application in Welsh and will be interviewed in Welsh, if shortlisted.