PhD Candidate in Building Integration of Solar Cells

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About the position

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU, has a vacancy for a PhD candidate in building integration of solar cells.

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

The PhD candidate position is foreseen to carry out experimental laboratory and field work on building integration of solar cells. This research work will be carried out within the project ”A Toolkit for Sustainable Photovoltaics Integration in the Norwegian Built Environment” (SolKit) funded by the Research Council of Norway and several industrial and other partners.

The primary objective of the SolKit project is to facilitate the widespread adoption of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) in the Norwegian built environment. The SolKit project entails overcoming barriers linked to Norwegian conditions while addressing societal needs, economic goals and sustainability challenges. Furthermore, SolKit aims to develop essential knowledge and tools specifically tailored to address the conditions hindering the broad acceptance and deployment of BIPV technologies in Norway.

The foreseen work tasks for the PhD candidate within the SolKit project will include one or several of the following building integration challenges, which will be tailor-made with the actual PhD candidate according to his or her background and interests and the needs of the SolKit project:

Energy performance and weather protection: Explore the dual functionality of electricity generation and weatherproofing in BIPV components, examining diverse solar cell materials, technologies, electrical connections, and sealing systems between BIPV and adjacent non-solar elements. The aim is to assess the influence of Norwegian weather conditions on the energy performance of BIPV components, with a focus on factors like snow and ice coverage, low solar radiation, diffuse solar radiation conditions, and low temperatures. Durability and service life: Assess the resilience of BIPV components concerning climate exposure and ageing under Norwegian conditions. The goal is to examine the performance of BIPV technologies used in Norway, considering degradation and service life in both natural and accelerated ageing conditions. The research will delve into realistic lifetimes for BIPV systems, aiming to provide insights for informed decision-making regarding design, installation, and maintenance in Norway. Robust solutions and next-generation BIPV: Conceptualise innovative and robust BIPV components, drawing insights from the abovementioned topics, to enable smooth integration of solar cells into buildings, tackling the varied challenges posed by Nordic conditions. Emphasis will be placed on weather resilience, simplified electrical connections, and minimized labour during installation and dismantling. Additionally, aspects such as plug-and-play, one-click-on-and-off alternatives, microinverters, and safety measures for autonomous solar cells will be explored. Moreover, the PhD candidate’s work and results will be part of the input to the BIPV tool development in the SolKit project: Tool development: Develop a user-friendly tool, providing stakeholders with information on BIPV systems and offering an overall evaluation of various installations. The tool will provide BIPV key details, such as potential power output, seasonal production profiles, environmental benefits, and investment payback time.

The SolKit project includes several national partners, among them the research organization SINTEF Community. The PhD candidate is expected to collaborate with other PhD students, research scientists and professors in our team and among the project partners. The PhD candidate is foreseen to collaborate and work in the laboratories of NTNU and SINTEF Community, with supervisors from both NTNU and SINTEF Community. In addition, some relevant field work with solar cell integration in existing and new buildings, including interactions with various SolKit partners, may also be expected.

Your immediate leader is professor.

Duties of the position

• Carry out the necessary work tasks, both research work and course studies, in order to obtain the PhD degree
• Contribute to the experimental activities and any relevant component development tasks in the project
• Contribute to relevant simulation and modelling activities in the project

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in one or several of the following fields: Physics, chemistry, materials science, nano materials science and technology, new materials/components development, building physics, building science, building technology, solar radiation, thermal physics, and solar cells, both experimentally and theoretically
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education
• Master students can apply, but the MSc degree must be obtained and documented by 1st of July 2025
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phbygg)
• Experience in laboratory activities
• A general background in materials science and/or building science, both theoretical and experimental
• Good written and oral English language skills
• The PhD candidate must not already hold a PhD, regardless of field
• A project proposal written by you the PhD candidate related to building integration of solar cells according to your ideas (approx. 2 pages)

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)for general criteria for the position.

Please note that the candidate holding the announced position is expected to work with critical infrastructure and areas affected by control of the export of strategic goods, services and technology. Candidates with the potential of not fulfilling requirement for security clearance, access clearance and authorization as described in the Act Relating to National Security, The Export Control Act and Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Sanctions Act) cannot be considered for the position (e.g., candidates from Russia, Iran, North Korea, among other countries).

Preferred selection criteria

• A professionally relevant background in several (i.e. more than one) of the following fields will be considered as an advantage: Physics, chemistry, materials science, nano materials science and technology, new materials/components development, building physics, building science, solar radiation, thermal physics, and solar cells, both experimentally and theoretically
• Background within miscellaneous building physics (building science) and technology aspects, both theoretical and experimental, will be considered as an advantage
• Knowledge and experimental experience within solar cells will be considered as an advantage
• Knowledge and experimental experience within building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) will be considered as an advantage
• Programming skills and/or simulation/modelling background will be considered as positive
• To have demonstrated the ability to write and publish international scientific articles based upon carried out research tasks will be considered as an advantage

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are: 

• Honest, reliable and resilient
• Motivated and enthusiastic about research work
• Able to draw up goals and strive to reach them
• Able to complete started tasks
• Able to work both independently and in teams

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

Evaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position.

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. (delete if not applicable)

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years. 

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in the Faculty of Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis and a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan related to building integration of solar cells (approx. 2 pages) 
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Bjørn Petter Jelle, telephone +47 92042933. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Oda Aune, e-mail: oda.aune@ntnu.no. 

Application deadline: 01.02.2025

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For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.