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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We seek a Physicist / Physical Chemist / Materials Scientist with expertise in the fabrication and optimisation of perovskite solar cells.  This project is industry lead and includes the companies Power Roll Ltd and DYENAMO. The project objectives are to develop new self-assembled molecular (SAM) materials supplied by DYENAMO that are designed to efficiently extract hole-carriers from perovskite solar cells. These will be used in either conventional planar perovskite solar cells or V-groove back-contact devices that are being developed by Power Roll (see DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.4c02734). A range of techniques will be used to deposit both perovskites and SAM layers, including slot-die deposition, thermal evaporation, spin-coating and spray-coating The results of this work will be used by Power Roll in their solar cell development programme.

Based in Professor David Lidzey's laboratory, your role will be to work in collaboration with researchers at Power Roll and DYENAMO to develop an understanding of how the different SAM materials affect solar cell efficiency and stability, and how this is also impacted by basic material deposition techniques. You will fabricate thin films characterising them using basic spectroscopic and microscopic imaging measurements. You will use the same films in solar cell devices from which you will determine device efficiency and operational stability. You will also fabricate devices based on Power Roll’s V-groove back contact device architecture. You will help transfer this understanding to researchers at Power Roll.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Design, develop and refine experiments in order to obtain reliable data.

• Carry out experimental research, including the use of chemicals and solvents in our clean-rooms.

• Undertake basic spectroscopy and microscopy on thin perovskite and organic films.

• Fabricate solar cells and characterise their efficiency and stability.

• Analyse and record data to aid the design of future research and produce useful findings for project partners.

• Prepare papers for journals/presentations either in-house or at national/international conferences or seminars to disseminate research findings. 

• Write progress reports and present work at project meetings in the UK and Sweden.

• Read academic papers, journals and textbooks and attend conferences to keep abreast of developments.

• Plan for specific aspects of research programmes.

• If given a particular hypothesis to examine, plan for own contribution up to 3 months ahead, incorporating issues such as the availability of resources, deadlines, project milestones and overall research aims. Design individual experiments weekly.

• Interact effectively with other members of the project team, sharing data and expertise and working together to reach project objectives.

• Supervise research team/activities if required.

• Continuously monitor and check results. The unpredictability of research means that daily planning is required to accommodate new developments.

• Plan several months in advance to meet deadlines for journal publications and to prepare presentations and papers for conferences.

• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• A PhD or equivalent experience in physical science or engineering. [assessed via application form]

• Experience in the development and optimisation of perovskite solar cells. [application form and interview]

• Experience in the deposition of thin organic films using both solution and thermal evaporation techniques. [application form and interview]

• Experience in testing and characterising solar cell devices. [application form and interview]

• Experience in using and maintaining a glovebox. [interview]

• Effective communication skills (including writing papers and making oral presentations at scientific meetings). [application form and interview]

• Ability to communicate ideas effectively to other researchers. [application form and interview]

• Ability to work effectively within a team. [interview]

• Ability to develop creative approaches to problem-solving. [interview]

• Ability to analyse and solve problems. [interview]

Desirable criteria

• Experience in fabrication of thin films using roll to roll / slot die / spray-coating. [application form and interview]

• Experience in perovskite precursor solvent formulation. [application form and interview]

Further Information

Grade: 7

Salary: £38,249 to £46,735

Work arrangement: Full-time

Duration: 15 months 

Line manager: Prof D G Lidzey

Direct reports: n/a

Our website: https://epmm.sites.sheffield.ac.uk 

For informal enquiries about this job contact
Prof David G. Lidzey: d.g.lidzey@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in August 2026. This will consist of an interview and a tour of the laboratories involved in the project, including an opportunity to meet members of the team based in Sheffield. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mps-hr@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes.

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

  • support for those going through the menopause

  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.