RESEARCH FELLOW – ADVANCED THIN-FILM SOLAR

 INL is actively working to mitigate the risk of CoVid-19 and is promoting protection measures within their community with impact in the regular activities. Ongoing and new R&S processes may have changes during this exceptional period. Please check the details in the job vacancy to keep track on any updates.

 

Research Fellow – Advanced thin-film solar cells (Ref.11.21.46)

 

Type of contract: Limited duration

Research Centre: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory – INL

Number of vacancies: 1

Duty Station: Braga, Portugal

Career Stage: Up to 3 years after PhD

Open date for applications: November 5th 2021

Closing Date for applications: November 26th 2021, 23:00 (Lisbon Time)

 

 

Organisation Description

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory – INL (http://www.inl.int), is the first and only International Intergovernmental Organisation in the world entirely focused on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

It was founded under an international legal framework to perform interdisciplinary research, deploy and communicate nanotechnology for the benefit of society. INL aims to be a recognised leading global nanotechnology innovation hub.

 

This call is related to the Scientific Research and Technological Development Projects identified hereunder, which are co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and National Funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). 

 

a) Project Specifications: INL participates in the following scientific research: Micro-concentrator thin film solar cells.

b) Name of the project: MiconCell - Micro-concentrator thin film solar cells

c) Reference number: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028922

d) Scientific Area:  Materials Engineering, Physical Sciences

e) Description:  Thin-film solar cell technology based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) presents several crucial advantages with respect to the currently dominating Si technology, namely higher cost-reduction potential, lower material consumption, and higher power conversion efficiency potential. The innovative idea of the MiconCell project is to combine the highly efficient CIGSe technology with the concentrator PV approach and shrink the size scale to the micrometer range. The benefits of this novel concept are materials savings and an efficiency increase due to the use of concentrated sunlight. The main goal of the project is to develop CIGSe micro-concentrator solar cells that can be monolithically integrated with concentrator optics.

 

Description of the functions and key primary responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work in the Nanostructured Cells Research Group on the design and fabrication of micro solar cells and concentration optics.

 

She/he will be assigned the following working plan:

• Fabrication and characterization of micro solar cell devices
• Fabrication and integration of micro lens arrays for light concentration
• Compound research activities and results and disseminate such results in research papers and reports
• Engage in collaborative research with researchers from other groups and Institutions

 

Specific Eligibility Conditions:

Candidates must meet the following conditions, as they are required by the nature of the duties the candidate will be required to perform:

 

• PhD degree in the field of Physics, Material Science, Materials Engineering, or related fields
• Experience in fabrication and characterization of solar cells
• Expertise in materials growth of semiconductors and their characterization 
• Knowledge on any of the following instrumental techniques will also be evaluated: vacuum deposition of semiconductor layers, electrodeposition, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, solar simulator, quantum efficiency
• Previous international mobility
• Impeccable data management skills

 

The call describes the requirements in terms of qualifications and professional experience deemed appropriate for the position. If a candidate has additional qualifications and professional experience, they can only be recruited at the job category and profile specified.

 

Applications that not meet these conditions will not be considered.

 

Supervision: The work plan will be developed at the INL under the scientific guidance of Dr. Sascha Sadewasser. The successful candidate will be integrated in the Nanostructured Solar Cells Research Group.

 

Selection Committee:

The selection of candidates will be carried out by a Selection Committee consisting of the following persons:

1)     Dr. Sascha Sadewasser

2)     Dr. Pedro Anacleto

3)     Dr. Nicoleta Nicoara

4)     Patrícia Oliveira - Human Resources

 

Duration of the contract

The total duration of the employment contract shall be 6 months. The expected starting date is December 2021.

 

General Eligibility conditions, required qualifications and expertise:

 Candidates must comply with the following requirements:

1. Hold a PhD Degree within the field of the selected vacancy;
2. Be a Portuguese citizen, a European Union citizen or a non-European Union Citizen with a scientific and professional curriculum that demonstrates an appropriate profile for the activity to be performed;
3. Fluency in English is required.

 

Supporting Documents:

Candidates must enclose the following supporting documents in pdf format, failing which the application will not be considered:

(a) Cover letter in English;

(b) Curriculum Vitae in English;

(c) Official transcripts of all relevant academic degrees;

(d) At least one recommendation letter;

(d) Recognition of academic degrees (only academic degrees awarded by non-Portuguese higher education institutions)*.

 

* The selected candidate(s) with an academic degree granted by a non-Portuguese higher education institution must present, for hiring purposes, the certificate of recognition of that degree(s), issued by the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education or by a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution. Please consult the website of the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en.

  

Evaluation process:

The evaluation process will follow a three-stage process:

1. Candidate eligibility check

Only full applications will be considered. The applicant will be responsible for the data submission and validation. The application language is English.

Applications that do not meet the eligibility conditions will not be considered.

2. Assessment of the Research Experience of the Candidate

The selection of candidates shall be made by means of an assessment of the research experience within the framework of the Project, which shall focus on the relevance, quality and up-to-date of the following items:

• Scientific and Technological Production (‘STP’);
• Applied and Practice-based Research Activities (‘RA’);
• Activities  related to the Dissemination of Knowledge (‘DK’);
• Activities related to the Management of Science, Technology and Innovation programmes (‘MSTI’).

 

The research experience will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• STP (65%): Academic Qualifications (AQ) – 10%; Research Quality (RQ) – 40%; Impact and Effectiveness (IE) – 15%;
• RA (15%): Research Coordination (RC) – 5%; Development, operation and maintenance of core facilities “instrumentation and/or equipment”  (DOM) – 2%; organisation of conferences, symposia and scientific cooperation activities (OCSS) - 2 %; teaching activities “advanced courses or university” (TA) – 3%; research stays and internships (RSI) – 3%;
• DK (5%): Transfer to other areas of society (TS) – 3%; promotion of the public understanding of science (PPUS) – 2%;
• MSTI (5%): Development of Laboratory facilities, management of research groups (DFMG) – 3%; evaluation of STI activities (EA) – 2%.

 

This criteria will have a total valuation of 90%. The minimum threshold for this stage is 60%.

 

The top four ranked candidates will be shortlisted for interview, provided however that they pass the threshold mentioned above.

 
3. Interview(s)

Interviews will be conducted through web conference or face-to-face meetings, as may be deemed appropriate. This criterion will have a total valuation of 10%.

 
Assessment:

The Selection Committee will draw up the minutes of the R&S process in which candidates will be ranked according to their evaluation scores.

 

Approval and formal offer:

Successful applicants will be offered the corresponding positions.

 

How to apply:

The application is made online. Please click on the 'Apply for this job' button.

For the application to be valid, the candidate must complete all required sections of the online application form as well as submit all required documents.

 

What we offer:

• Social Security costs to be paid by INL;
• Work Accidents insurance costs to be paid by INL, to provide coverage for work accidents and invalidity benefits;
• Health insurance with excellent coverage;
• Tax Benefit: The personnel working at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory are exempt from national income taxes so the only deduction from their part of the salary will be 11 % for social security and 12% for an internal tax;
• A family allowance of 160€/month for staff members that are married or that are living under the status of “common-law couple” and/or have any dependent child;
• A child allowance of 200€/month for each dependent child;
• Free Nursery Service at INL campus (subject to availability);
• Support for Education fees of dependent children;
• Depending on the place of residence, INL covers 100% of travel expenses for all family members.

 

 

Financial Benefits:

INL offers an attractive financial package appropriate to an international research organization composed by a gross monthly Remuneration of 2600.00€ paid in 12 instalments. Due to INL special legal status as intergovernmental organization, financial benefits are exempt for national income tax. Apart from the salary, INL may offer, depending on the personal situation, additional allowances and benefits for families and non-residents. The financial benefits already include the-amount equivalent to the level 38 of the single remuneration table (TRU) as set out in Implementing Decree no. 11-A/2017, of December 29.

 

Applicable legal and regulatory framework, taking into consideration the international status of the Organisation:

The contract will be subject to the INL’s Staff Rules, as amended from time to time, as well as to all other relevant instructions issued by the Organisation. For this purpose, a copy of the Staff Rules shall be provided. The contract may also be supplemented by the terms and conditions of the Financing Contract between the Organisation and the FCT governing the implementation of the FCT Project.

Disputes between the Organisation and the Employed Member of the Personnel shall be settled in accordance with the INL´s Staff Rules.

 

Notification of results:

Each candidate notified via email of the result of their individual application. If the first candidate refuses the offer, the Human Resources will send an offer to the second candidate on the ranking, and so on until the vacancy is filled.

We highly value the interest shown from applicants wishing to become a part of the INL experience. It is important for us to maintain good communications with candidates. No matter the outcome of the application, we always send the applicant an answer. 

 

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Principle:

INL promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.

 

Helpdesk:

Applicants can receive support regarding applications to this positions via e-mail: hr.services@inl.int

 

Apply