PhD student in biomolecular and organic electronics

Skilled and committed employees are a crucial factor in the success of Linköping University. And we need more of them. Our core expertise comes from teachers and researchers, but a successful university requires experienced and motivated employees in many fields. Everyone is important. We need to recruit many new employees thanks to, among all, an expansion in our research activity. We need you here. We look forward to receiving your application!

The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology conducts research and offers education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Research, the predominant activity, is often done in collaboration with corporate and international partners. We are one of the university’s largest, oldest and most well known departments, encompassing five interacting scientific fields: biology, chemistry, material physics, applied physics and theory and modelling.
Read more at https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/ifm

We are looking for a PhD student in biomolecular and organic electronics, for a project about the Integration of Photosystem I into Organic Solar Cells, based at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) .

This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE, wise-materials.org). WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science. Read more: https://wise-materials.org

Your work assignments
Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs) is one of the key technologies for renewable energy. It would be highly desirable to develop OPV-technology based on readily available materials such as plants or algae. In plants and algae, photosystem I (PSI) will generate charges under sunlight, and an interesting question is if PSI may play a role in future OPV-technology. Within this project you will investigate the integration of PSI into organic solar cells. The main objectives are: 1) to explore hybrid ternary organic PV cells (OPVs) by integrating PSI as an electron source into bulk heterojunctions (BHJs), with organic donors/acceptors as complementary absorber/charge suppliers; 2) to develop methodology for aqueous processing of BHJs integrating PSI; and 3) to investigate low-cost sustainable substitutes for OPV materials, suitable for integration with PSI. 

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School https://wise-materials.org/research/graduate-school/ , an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and industry.

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Your workplace
You will be employed within the unit for Biomolecular and Organic Electronics (Biorgel), part of the division Electronic and Photonic Materials, at the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM.)

Your research at Biorgel will be supervised by Prof. Fengling Zhang and Asso. Prof. Niclas Solin. The Biorgel group (started by emeritus professor Olle Inganäs), has for more than 20 years investigated organic solar cells as well as the integration of bio-based materials, including proteins, into various devices Biorgel is equipped with infrastructure for materials preparation, device fabrication, characterization, electrical/optical analysis, and morphology imaging microscopies. IFM is an international and collaborative research environment with interdisciplinary research and both undergraduate and postgraduate education.

Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level materials science, or related topics such as  applied physics, electrical engineering, or materials chemistry or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses in materials science or related topics. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

The project is of an interdisciplinary character requiring knowledge of both chemistry and physics, as PSI will be isolated (e.g. from plants) and integrated into the active layer of organic solar cells. In addition, the development and evaluation of solar cells requires knowledge in material science and electrical engineering or other related subjects. It is valuable if the candidate has experience in at least one of the following topics: extraction of PSI and application of PSI in materials science; synthesis of materials for applications in organic electronics; fabrication and characterization of solar cells (e.g. organic-, dye sensitized-, or perovskite-solar cells).

You must have excellent English communication skills; verbal communication skills are required for efficient interaction with colleagues and collaborators, and written communication skills are required for dissemination of your research results.  You should moreover have both strong analytical and practical problem-solving capability.  Most importantly, the candidate should have strong passion in scientific research, be strongly motivated and good at teamwork.

Please include a letter of intent where you briefly describe your background and motivation why the position may be suitable for you. Do also provide at least one reference person, preferably your master thesis supervisor (maximum 1 page).

Terms of employment
When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date
As soon as possible, preferably not later than 15 August 2023  or by agreement.

Salary and employment benefits
The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants .

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than 31st of March 2023.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities .

We look forward to receiving your application!

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