Postdoctoral researcher—Thin film photoabsorber development

NREL • Golden, CO

13d

About The Position

The Materials Discovery and Design team in the Materials Science center has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to work on the development of inorganic polycrystalline thin film photoabsorber materials. This experimental position would involve synthesis, characterization, and processing of chalcogenide (selenide, telluride) and pnictide (nitride, phosphide) thin film semiconductor materials for applications as light absorbers and photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical fuel production. This role will involve thin film deposition, with a focus on multilayer device stack fabrication, and characterization of semiconductor structure and properties, with a focus on measurements of photoexcited carrier dynamics and charge transport. Job duties will also include setting up and maintaining existing experimental equipment, and improving/developing data collection and analysis software. This research will take place within a multi-disciplinary team, where the successful candidate will not only develop their own work for publication but also collaborate closely with others to provide material and publish work beyond synthesis or device fabrication. As such, established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publication, and communication is required for this position. In addition, a successful candidate will be expected to have strong self-motivation, ability to work on collaborative projects and to balance different types of tasks and deadlines. The initial appointment is for 1 year with possible extension of up to 3 years total provided mutual satisfaction and availability of funds. Please include a cover letter describing how you meet Additional Required Qualifications and Preferred Qualifications (see below) in order to complete your application.

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Candidates should have direct experience in at least two of the following areas:
• Hands-on experience with thin film vacuum deposition tools, such as reactive sputtering, co-evaporation, or molecular beam epitaxy.
• Background developing and optimizing polycrystalline photoabsorber materials and interfacial/contact layers, including device level work.
• Working knowledge of photoexcited carrier dynamics measurement methods, such as time resolved photoluminescence, transient absorption spectroscopy, etc.
• Experience in fabrication and characterization of semiconductor junctions for optoelectronic applications
• Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publication, and communication
• Strong self-motivation
• Ability to work on collaborative projects and to balance different types of tasks and deadlines

Nice To Haves

• Proven ability to maintain complex synthesis and characterization equipment, in particular high vacuum instruments using hazardous production materials.
• Expertise in novel chemical spaces with underexplored materials compositions (ternary or multinary) or unusual crystal structures (zintl, chalcopyrite, kesterite etc)
• Experience in fabrication and characterization of polycrystalline thin film photovoltaic absorbers materials and devices such as CdTe, CIGS, CZTS
• In-depth knowledge of one or several characterization methods used to determine the composition and structure of inorganic materials.
• Hands on skills in assembly, troubleshooting and use of photoelectrochemical electrodes and cell fixtures
• Basic understanding of photoelectrochemical measurement and characterization methods
• Prior experience with high-throughput experimental (combinatorial), data-drive, or AI/ML-assisted research methods and techniques.
• Active computer skills in programing (e.g. C or Igor Pro, Python, LabView, Matlab, etc.), statistical data analysis, and/or software development

Responsibilities

• Thin film deposition, with a focus on multilayer device stack fabrication
• Characterization of semiconductor structure and properties, with a focus on measurements of photoexcited carrier dynamics and charge transport
• Setting up and maintaining existing experimental equipment
• Improving/developing data collection and analysis software
• Collaborate closely with others to provide material and publish work beyond synthesis or device fabrication

Benefits

• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance; pension benefits; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays.
• NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component.
• Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree