Postdoc Sustainability of PV

Job description

The current transition towards using renewable energy implies a transition towards the increased demand of different raw materials as well. How can the supply of sufficient materials for solar panels, batteries, etc. be met to scale renewable energy technologies with such low environmental impact that we keep below 1.5 degrees warming and reach a CO2 neutral society by 2050?

In this research line, we aim at contributing to the development of circular PV. We are part of the winning bid of three European Projects to develop the next generation of advanced silicon solar cells. We are looking for PostDoc to lead our efforts in the sustainability work packages covering life cycle assessment, supply and circularity evaluation for the PV technologies under development.

You will work with Malte Vogt and Olindo Isabella in the Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD) group as part of the Electrical Sustainable Energy (ESE) department. The program of the PVMD group builds up expertise in the design and fabrication technology from solar cells to PV systems with their power electronics and storage options. The ESE department’s research activities aim at accelerating the energy transition towards sustainable energy. You will contribute to the climate action program in theme II on climate change mitigation in the flagship project “Materials for circular renewable energy technologies”.

About the department

The PVMD group is part of the Electrical Sustainable Energy department which is inspired by the technical, scientific, and societal challenges originating from the transition towards a more sustainable society and focuses on four areas:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)
• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)
• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)
• High Voltage Technologies (HVT)

The Electrical Sustainable Energy Department provides expertise in each of these areas throughout the entire energy system chain. The department owns the large Electrical Sustainable Power (ESP) Laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, DC Grids testing environment, and a large RTDS that is actively used for real-time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection, and wide-area monitoring and protection.

Requirements

We are acutely aware that we are a diverse society and not every talented applicant will have had the same opportunities to advance their careers. We therefore pledge to fully account for any particular circumstances that the applicants disclose (e.g. parental leave, caring duties, part-time jobs to support studies, disabilities etc.) to ensure an inclusive and fair recruitment process that does not rely purely on common research metrics.

The successful applicant will have:

• PhD degree in physics, chemistry, material science, industrial ecology, or a related discipline
• Expertise in one of the following areas: Life cycle assessment, material supply evaluation or circularity of PV modules
• Publications in relevant research journals
• Experience with guiding students’ thesis projects
• Ability to work independently and self-driven in a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills in English, both in writing and speaking

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

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!

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

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.