PhD Position in Robotic Research platform and automated Device Doctor for Perovskite Solar Cells

The Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Energy Devices (SDU CAPE) part of the Mads Clausen Institute University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for one or more 3-year PhD positions within the R2-D2 project: Robotic Research platform and automated Device Doctor for Perovskite Solar Cells. The positions are available from January 1 2026 and the specific start date will be agreed with the successful candidates.

What we offer

The PhD position is a part of the SDU CAPE research center at the Mads Clausen Institute SDU where we focus on designing developing and bringing forward new sustainable solar energy conversion and storage technologies in particular new thin film solar cells and modules. This PhD position is focused on developing a robotic research platform and an automated Device Doctor for perovskite solar cells. The goal is to combine high-throughput experimentation machine learning and advanced modeling to accelerate device optimization and enable automated diagnosis of performance-limiting factors and suggest optimization strategies. The project will be part of the DFF Sapere Aude project and research stays abroad are part of the position.

The majority of your working time is devoted to your own research studies. As a PhD student you are expected to develop your own ideas and communicate scientific results in English. We offer a fully funded PhD position for the duration of three years.

The successful applicant will be enrolled as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of Engineering.

What we expect

Candidates who have a previous masters degree in a field relevant to the mentioned PhD-project may seek the fellowships (material science physics chemistry electrical engineering and similar). Candidates with experience in thin-film fabrication and characterization perovskite and/or organic hybrid semiconductors or thin-film photovoltaic devices are especially encouraged to apply. Additional skills in self-driving laboratories programming/modeling or machine learning will be considered an advantage. Due to the strong cross-disciplinary nature of the work the candidate is expected to have excellent collaboration skills. A very good capability of communicating scientific results in English both orally and in writing is required.

Workplace description

We are an international research center working in the field of green energy technologies (CAPE) and we are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our CAPE research center at University of Southern Denmark (SDU) campus Sønderborg for developing next-generation sustainable and high performance photovoltaics. We offer a modern inclusive international and interdisciplinary working environment with state-of-the-art facilities as well as a strong tradition of international collaboration. Our ambition is to recruit develop and retain talented scholars committed to both academic excellence and departmental development.

Having a focus on green energy technologies - improving performance device stability and up-scaling the center has full access to an ISOS5 cleanroom and surface science laboratory facility for the preparation and characterization of thin films and photovoltaic devices a dedicated robotic system for automated small-area sample preparation as well as a fully equipped Roll-to-Roll (R2R) facility for upscaling flexible devices. Our research center CAPE is a partner in various national and international research projects and networks that include collaboration partners from both academia and industry.

Read more on: information

For information about the Mads Clausen Institute and SDU CAPE please see information about this position is available from Professor Vincent M. Le Corre e-mail:.

If you experience technical problems please contact

Application

Before applying the candidates are advised to read theFaculty information for prospective PhD studentsand the SDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material and an application must include:

• Motivated application.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Masters and bachelors degree certificates or equivalent including transcripts of grades (copy of original/official English translation).
• Completed TEK PhD application form for 53 applicants. Find the form at theFaculty website.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at theFaculty website.
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish).
• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: An official written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 the graduation class for the study programme.
• List of publications and maximum 2 examples of relevant publications (in case you have any publications).
• References may be included youre welcome to use the form for reference letter at theFaculty website.
• A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.

SUBMISSION GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded in the box Cover letter (max. 5 MB) Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded the the box Resume (max 5 MB). All other documents shall be uploaded in the box Miscellaneous documents (max 10 files of max 50 MB per file).

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration no.) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

The application deadline is November 1 2025at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST)

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment.Read about shortlisting at and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.

Read about theAssessment and selection process.

Conditions of enrollment/employment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position and the monthly gross salary incl. pension is 36.138 DKK. If you have relevant postgraduate experience you may be placed on a higher salary step.

The preferred start date is from January 1 2026.

Applicants must hold a masters degree (equivalent to a Danish masters degree) at the time of enrollment and is contingent on enrollment approved by the PhD will be in accordance withFaculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order).Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for PhD fellows as described herein as well as the Protocol on PhD fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).Further information about salary and conditions of person employed in the position may based on a specific individual managerial evaluation be exempted from time registration also known as a self-organizer.

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The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone regardless of personal background to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies which due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore based on information from open sources background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Further informationfor international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visitWorkinDenmarkfor additional information.

Further informationabout The Faculty of Engineering.