PhD student in solar cell technology with a focus on nano-optics for agrivoltaics
Admission to doctoral studies in the subject of engineering physics with a specialization in electronics, at the Department of Solar Cell Technology, Department of Materials Science, Uppsala University.
Join us!
The Department of Materials Science aims to be an environment for successful and valuable research and education focusing on materials science solutions for important societal challenges.
About the department
The Department of Solar Cell Technology is part of the Department of Materials Science at Ångström Laboratory. The research at the department spans from physics, chemistry, and electronics to materials science applications such as thin-film technology, materials development, and process engineering. The common denominator is a strive to understand how light interacts with electro-optical materials and to use this understanding to make solar cells more efficient and potentially cheaper. Our goal is for the research to contribute to a sustainable electricity system with the sun as the energy source.
Project description
Within agrivoltaics, or solar farming, the same land is used for both cultivation and electricity production using solar cells. It is therefore desirable that sunlight is shared between crops and solar cells in such a way that the highest possible value is created on an overall level. With this in mind, this project aims to develop and investigate new concepts within agrivoltaics, where the interaction between light, solar cells, and cultivated crops is controlled using nanostructured layers in connection with the solar cells. The challenges and research questions lie within theoretical development, understanding and evaluation of new optical structures, experimental fabrication of desired structures, possibilities to scale up the technology, as well as experimental studies and evaluation of promising concepts in model and pilot systems of relevance to agrivoltaic systems on different scales.
For the scale-up and eventual commercialization of the technology, the project will be carried out in close collaboration with Mycronic AB, a global leader in the development and manufacture of high-precision equipment for photolithography, primarily used within the semiconductor and display industries. The expertise in high-resolution patterning at Mycronic provides exciting opportunities to test structures on a larger scale, and to transfer concepts to practical application within next-generation solar cell technology.
Tasks
The main task for a PhD student is to devote themselves to their doctoral studies, which includes both participation in research projects and doctoral courses. The tasks may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work, however, a maximum of 20% of working time.
Being a PhD student means independently driving projects within a specific doctoral subject. You will collaborate continuously with other PhD students and researchers to together create results within various projects and will have one or more supervisors for support during your doctoral studies. However, you will work largely independently, e.g., through work in a laboratory environment and writing articles for journals and results for your doctoral thesis. Usually, some form of mid-term seminar is included after approximately half of the training period.
In the project, you will use theoretical models to develop and evaluate optical structures, and to analyze and understand optical measurements. A large part of your time will be devoted to experimentally developing lithographic techniques for the production of desired nanostructures, various characterization methods for determining structural and optical properties, as well as measurements of performance in relation to the application within agrivoltaics.
Tasks include
- Experimental process development in a cleanroom environment
- Experimental measurements and analysis
- Computer-based modeling of nano-optics
- Summarizing and interpreting results
- Writing articles (English)
- Presentation in writing and speech (English)
- Work in an interdisciplinary team with expertise in solar cell technology, agrivoltaics, and nanotechnology.
Eligibility requirements
Eligible for doctoral studies is the person who has completed a degree at an advanced level or completed at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at an advanced level including an independent work of at least 15 higher education credits, or has in some other way acquired substantially equivalent knowledge.
Qualification requirements
Master's degree or civilingenjör degree in physics, engineering physics, materials science, or a related field, alternatively other education assessed to correspond to these qualifications.
- Documented knowledge in optics and electromagnetism.
- Documented knowledge and experience of experimental work
- Good knowledge of programming in, for example, Matlab or Python
- Good oral and written proficiency in English.
Desirable/merit-based
Documented experience in one or more of the following areas is considered a merit:
- Work in a cleanroom environment
- Work with electron and photolithography, thin-film technology, optical characterization, and electron microscopy.
- Optical modeling and simulation
- Solar cell physics and technology, sustainable energy, and related technology.
About the employment
The employment is time-limited, according to HF 5 kap § 7.
The scope is full-time.
Start in November 2026 or as agreed.
Location: Uppsala
Salary: PhD students at Uppsala University are covered by a PhD salary scale according to current local collective agreements. For the first three years, the salary is based on the number of active years and then based on the progression in the education.
Welcome with your application no later than September 16, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/2449