Research Assistant / Research Officer (SOLACE Project)

About The University

Swansea University is a research-led university that has been making a difference since 1920. The University community thrives on exploration and discovery and offers the right balance of excellent teaching and research, matched by an enviable quality of life.

Our stunning waterfront campuses and multicultural community make us a desirable workplace for colleagues from around the world. Our reward and benefits, and ways of working enable those who join us to have enriching careers, matched by an excellent work-life balance.

About The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious researcher to help advance the next generation of photovoltaic technology through the UKRI-funded SOLACE programme. Working as part of a highly international research team, you will help develop high-efficiency, fully solution-processed all-perovskite tandem solar cells, combining fundamental understanding of materials and device performance with approaches that can ultimately be translated towards scalable manufacture.

The postholder will use advanced photophysical and optoelectronic characterisation to uncover the mechanisms limiting device performance and use these insights to guide the development of improved materials, interfaces and tandem solar cells. Techniques will include steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence, photoluminescence quantum yield, electroluminescence and time-resolved microwave conductivity, alongside quantitative analysis of recombination and charge transport.

A key ambition of the role is to translate this understanding beyond laboratory-scale devices. The successful candidate will help develop industrially relevant solution-processing approaches, including slot-die, blade, screen and spray coating, with a focus on reproducibility, scalability and manufacturability.

You will join a highly collaborative and internationally connected photovoltaics research environment at Swansea University, working alongside teams active in next-generation solar technologies, sustainable manufacturing and transforming energy access. The role involves close collaboration with partners in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, including researcher exchanges and training activities, and contributes to the wider work of Swansea University's UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Energy Technologies.

The successful candidate will be supported to develop their research profile through publications, international collaboration, postgraduate supervision and future research activities. We particularly welcome applicants with expertise in advanced characterisation, photovoltaics or solution-processed semiconductor devices; experience across every technique is not expected.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

As an inclusive and welcoming workplace, we value people for their skills regardless of their background. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English.

Welsh Language Skills

The Welsh language level required for this role is Level 1 - A little. The role holder will be able to pronounce Welsh words, answer the phone in Welsh (good morning/afternoon) and use very basic everyday words and phrases (thank you, please etc.). Level 1 can be reached by completing a 1 hour course.

The University is a proud bilingual institution, our Welsh Language Strategy outlines our aspiration to promote the language and enable our staff to engage with the language as an additional workplace skill and as a gateway to new cultural and social opportunities. Applications are welcome in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than those submitted in English. Welsh speakers have the right to an interview in Welsh. Applicants for a role where Welsh skills are essential are expected to present their application in Welsh and will be interviewed in Welsh, if shortlisted.

Additional Information

Applications for this role will take the format of a CV submission and cover letter.

A satisfactory DBS certificate is not required for this role.

This role involves international travel to partner institutions in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, and applicants should be willing and able to travel internationally as part of the project's capacity-building and training activities.

Informal enquiries:

Prof Matthew Davies, m.l.davies@swansea.ac.uk or Prof Trystan Watson, T.M.Watson@Swansea.ac.uk

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