MSCA Doctoral Network MENTOR project PhD Student position

Apply

14 Feb 2025
14 Feb 2025
Teddington, United Kingdom
All Locations is a required field
Electromagnetic and Electrochemical Tech
All Departments is a required field
Competitive + Benefits
Fixed Term Contract

Home
Vacancies
MSCA Doctoral Network MENTOR project PhD Student position

About the Role
The National Physical Laboratory, UK, seeks a PhD candidate for a prestigious MSCA Doctoral Network position. The candidate will play a pivotal role in the MENTOR project on environmentally friendly indoor photovoltaics. Working on the topic "New methods for accurate and reproducible assessment of performance, losses and reliability in indoor PV cells and modules", they will be responsible for developing advanced characterisation techniques and test methods that will be applied to devices developed by project partners.

This work will include:
- Development of new imaging techniques to understand losses in photovoltaic devices.
- Accelerated ageing studies on indoor photovoltaic devices.
- Developing methods for comparing and rating performance of indoor photovoltaic devices.
The PhD candidate will not only develop new measurement techniques, but also the accompanying analysis methods and device modelling. They will need an eye for detail and a passion for accuracy and thoroughness. They require an understanding of device physics and an aptitude for device characterisation, device modelling, probability and statistics and coding. They must have a first degree in Physics, Electronic Engineering or a related subject.

The MENTOR project is a network of 8 universities, 7 industrial partners, and 5 research centres across Europe covering key aspects of indoor photovoltaics including sustainable design, organic and inorganic materials synthesis, photovoltaics manufacturing and characterisation, device physics and modelling, theoretical and machine learning-driven approaches, photovoltaics recycling, and industrial processing. It is coordinated by Tampere University, Finland. The PhD candidate will collaborate closely with the 16 other doctoral candidates in the consortium to develop device characterisation methods that will be used by project partners. MENTOR provides training and networking opportunities, including training events and secondments to develop the next generation of leading scientists.

NPL is a national research laboratory of the United Kingdom. Its mission is to develop and apply measurement science to tackle grand challenges, support economic growth and improve quality of life. NPL’s Photovoltaics capabilities support innovation and uptake of new photovoltaic technologies, and play a critical role in the development of international standards.
About You
The position is fixed term for three years. The candidate will be based at NPL’s Teddington Laboratory (Greater London, UK), but will also take at least two secondments to partners. Applicants must already have the right to travel and work in the EU and Switzerland for the period of the project (e.g. be citizens of EU/EFTA countries). Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment. They must also be eligible to be enrolled into a Doctoral Programme at Tampere University, and not have been awarded a doctoral degree previously.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) security clearance.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.
About Us
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.