The Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Energy Devices (SDU CAPE), part of the Mads Clausen Institute at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), is offering a fully funded 3-year PhD position within the R2-D2 project: “Robotic Research platform and automated Device Doctor for Perovskite Solar Cells.” The position is available from April 15, 2026, with the exact start date to be agreed upon with the successful candidate.

As a PhD fellow, you will join the SDU CAPE research center, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable solar energy conversion and storage technologies, with a particular emphasis on innovative thin-film solar cells and modules. Your research will focus on developing a robotic research platform and an automated ‘Device Doctor’ for perovskite solar cells, integrating high-throughput experimentation, machine learning, and advanced modeling to accelerate device optimization. The project aims to enable automated diagnosis of performance-limiting factors and suggest effective optimization strategies. The position is part of the DFF Sapere Aude project and includes opportunities for research stays abroad.

The successful candidate will be enrolled at the PhD School at the Faculty of Engineering, SDU. The majority of your time will be devoted to independent research, and you are expected to develop your own ideas and communicate scientific results in English. The CAPE center offers a modern, inclusive, and interdisciplinary working environment with state-of-the-art facilities, including an ISOS5 cleanroom, surface science laboratory, dedicated robotic systems for sample preparation, and a fully equipped Roll-to-Roll (R2R) facility for upscaling flexible devices. The center is actively involved in national and international research collaborations with both academic and industry partners.

Eligibility and Requirements: Applicants must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent to a Danish master's degree) in a relevant field such as materials science, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, or similar. Experience in thin-film fabrication and characterization, perovskite and/or organic hybrid semiconductors, or thin-film photovoltaic devices is highly desirable. Additional skills in self-driving laboratories, programming/modeling, or machine learning are considered an advantage. Excellent collaboration skills and strong English communication abilities (oral and written) are required. All application documents must be in English and PDF format.

Funding: The position is fully funded for three years, with a monthly gross salary including pension of 36,608 DKK. Candidates with relevant postgraduate experience may be placed on a higher salary step. Employment and enrollment are subject to SDU and Danish university regulations and collective agreements.

Application Process: Candidates should prepare a motivated application, CV, degree certificates and transcripts, completed TEK PhD application forms, and other required documents. All documents must be submitted in English and PDF format via the online application portal. The application deadline is March 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM CET. Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee, and shortlisting may be applied. Interviews and tests may be part of the evaluation process.

For further information about the position, contact Assistant Professor Vincent M. Le Corre at [email protected]. Additional details about the Mads Clausen Institute and SDU CAPE can be found at SDU MCI and SDU CAPE. The application portal and full position details are available here.

SDU is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified candidates to apply. The university conducts research in critical technologies and may conduct background checks on candidates. For international applicants, further information about entering and working in Denmark is available via WorkinDenmark and the SDU website.