Reference: CeNTI SM02_2024_MSCA
Department: Smart Materials
Job status: Full-time
Euraxess LINK
Description:
CeNTI is looking for a doctoral researcher to carry out activities under the European project “MENTOR”, co-financed by Horizon Europe – MSCA (reference number: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01; Marie Curie Grant Agreement number: 101169056).
The selected candidate will partake in the development of next-generation indoor photovoltaics (IPVs) that efficiently re-use energy from artificial illumination to power electronics, including sustainable design, organic and inorganic materials for encapsulation solutions and characterization, as well as acquire a wide range of knowledge of the state of the art in related fields. Furthermore, the selected candidate will also be involved in dissemination through social media promotion of the network.
The scientific objectives for this specific recruitment include:
1) To investigate transparent commercial encapsulation barrier membranes;
2) To maximize encapsulation capabilities by PVD (DC magnetron sputtering or E-beam evaporation) or wet coatings technologies (polymer multilayer, slot die coatings);
3) To characterize the developed encapsulation layers (adhesion, permeability, mechanical strength);
4) To evaluate the output and stability of IPVs (organic PV, perovskite PV, dye-sensitized PV) after encapsulation.
5) To realize an IoT demonstrator based on encapsulated IPVs.
Work contract duration: 36 months.
Place of employment: CeNTI, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal.
Mobility: University of Rome Tor Vergata (UNITOV), Rome, Italy (4 months); Worldsensing (WSE), Spain (3 months).
Supervisory team: Francesca Brunetti, UNITOV; Mariana Marques, CeNTI; and Francisco Hernandez, WSE.
About MENTOR: MENTOR is a research initiative granted by the European Research Executive Agency. The project will provide a comprehensive and versatile technical platform for the development of next-generation indoor photovoltaics (IPVs) that efficiently re-use energy from artificial illumination to power electronics, eventually contributing to an energy- and climate-neutral future. MENTOR aims to unlock the full potential of IPVs through the establishment of the first international network of 8 universities, 7 industrial partners, and 5 research centers. This network will establish an interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and global program of doctoral training and research that propels the development of new leaders capable of directing academic and industrial R&D on renewable energy, electronics, and sustainability through the successful implementation of 16 doctoral candidate individual projects. To learn more about the MENTOR program, go HERE.
Specific requirements:
- M.Sc. or equivalent in Physics, Materials Science, Engineering, or related field.
- Experience with indoor photovoltaic systems, namely in perovskite solar cells (mandatory).
- Experience with materials and characterization techniques in encapsulation systems will be valued.
- Good collaborative and team ethics, with an adaptable and flexible approach to R&D challenges.
- Good communication skills: spoken and written proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in written/spoken English is mandatory. In certain cases, a language certificate may be asked.
- Personal interest in developing products using user-centric design and technology.
- Recruited researchers can be of any nationality. The researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of his/her employer (CeNTI, Portugal) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment.
Specific skills:
- Creative, dynamic, strategic, analytical capacity.
- Proactivity and autonomy are highly valuable.
- Motivation to work with multidisciplinary teams.
- Organizational skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to establish collaborative synergies with different partner entities.
We offer:
- Approximate annual gross salary: this contract will correspond to 14 monthly salaries and a Gross Annual Income of 35 752,60€ plus an annual family allowance (5 940,00€), if applicable as defined by Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network call (according to national law, social security contributions and direct taxes will be deducted from total amount, on the monthly bases).
- Collaborative work environment joining a highly dynamic R&D team.
- Opportunity to develop new skills on-the-job via development of new technologies and participation in innovative project.
How to apply:
The application should be sent by e-mail to rh@centi.pt indicating the offer reference CeNTI SM02_2024_MSCA.
Only applications in English will be accepted.
