This scholarship is funded by the European Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network MAESTRO.
Subject areas: Roll to Roll Printed Electronics
Start date: October 2018 (or earlier if desired by candidate)
The European Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network MAESTRO brings 10 academic and 7 industrial beneficiaries together. MAESTRO is focused on perovskite semiconductors, a material shown in the last 4 years to have a major impact on solar power and potentially also in display technology. Research carried out by this intersectoral and multidisciplinary network aims to make perovskite based devices commercially viable. 15 doctoral researchers/PhDs employed by MAESTRO will have an opportunity to develop their skills in a broad area while involved in cross sector excellent research. PhDs will be trained in (i) science and technology across physics, chemistry, materials science, electrical engineering, in two major application areas, solar cells and light emitting diodes, and other uses such as lasers and photodiodes; (ii) exploitation from laboratory to fabrication; (iii) transferable skills of communication, information technology, organization, planning, teamwork, leadership; (iv) skills needed for innovation, such as understanding markets, product life cycles, business models, return on investment.
MAESTRO Partners are the following: University of Bath (UK), Fondazione Istituto italiano Di Tecnologia (IT), Universitat Jaume I De Castellon (ES), University of Oxford (UK), National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos (GR), Universita Degli Studi Di Roma Tor Vergata (IT), Bar Ilan University (IL), Swansea University (UK), Universitat Konstanz (DE), Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (CH), Oxford Photovoltaics Ltd (UK), 3GSolar Photovoltaics (IL), Greatcell UK Ltd (UK), UAB Modernios E-Technologijos (LT), Saule SP Zoo (PL).
During the course of employment/enrolment in PhD programme you will undertake 2-3 secondments, each lasting 2 months or more. We are looking for an Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) to be appointed as staff at the host organisations within MAESTRO. ESRs will be enrolled in a three years PhD programme at Swansea University.
The successful ESR candidate will be employed within Professor Trystan Watson’s group at Swansea University. As an ESR you will carry out research developing methods suitable for producing perovskite solar cells by roll to roll production on flexible metal substrate. This will involve development of processes to enable uniform deposition and annealing of a number of layers by roll to roll technologies as well as analytical techniques to assess quality inline and off line.
This role is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience and expertise within the field of printed electronics, in an academic setting that has very close links with industry. Previous experience in either printing or electrochemical devices is preferred but not essential. The successful candidate will be expected to work well in a multi disciplinary team of academics and industry professionals and be able to represent the group and the University on an international stage.
Founded in 1096, University of Oxford is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Oxford (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), South East England. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Privy Council, University of Oxford is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of Oxford offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 923 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 20-30% making this UK higher education organization a very selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.