PhD Position Advanced Opto-Electrical Modelling of Bifacial Silicon Heterojunction Solar cells

Join our innovative research team to optimize silicon heterojunction cell design through cutting-edge multi-scale physics modeling for a more efficient and sustainable solar future!     

Developing next-generation silicon heterojunction cells involves making design choices that impact cost, efficiency, energy yield, and long-term reliability. By enabling model-informed design choices, this research can significantly enhance the design and production of bifacial silicon heterojunction cells, making them more cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable. You will develop a modelling framework for simulating bifacial silicon heterojunction solar cells based on a multi-scale physics approach that includes analysis at material, device and module level, to improve the efficiency, energy yield, lifetime, and circularity of this technology.

You will:

• Develop an atomistic model to predict the opto-electrical properties of novel photovoltaic materials and interfaces, including passivation of the silicon interface and long-term stability.
• Develop an opto-electrical device model to predict cell performance under various temperature and irradiance levels.
• Develop a lifetime energy yield model for bifacial PV modules to assess performance degradation and circularity over a 50-years lifetime in various climates.

This project is part of the SolarLab program in the SolarNL project and performed within the Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD) group at TU Delft, under supervision of dr. Paul Procel-Moya and  dr. Rudi Santbergen.

The successful applicant will have:

• Master's degree in physics, material science, or sustainable energy technology.
• Strong background in material science, modelling and data analysis.
• Experience with modelling and simulation tools relevant to PV devices or systems
• Ability to work independently and self-driven, being a team player in a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communications skills in English, both writing and speaking.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Rudi Santbergen, +31 (0)15 27 84425, [email protected] or Prof. dr. Olindo Isabella, +31 (0)15 27 81947, [email protected].

For information about the selection procedure, please contact Brenda Reyes, Management Assistant, email: [email protected].

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before the September 1, 2024 via the application button and upload your:

• Application letter addressed to Dr. Rudi Santbergen that explains your personal motivation in pursuing a PhD and fit to the job requirements;
• Curriculum vitae (CV) with a list of (academic and/or industry) references that we can contact;
• Qualification evidence including MSc and BSc degrees and transcripts.

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.