Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

On January 1st, 2017, Bergen University College, Sogn og Fjordane University College and Stord/Haugesund University College merged to form Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

With about 16,000 students, is one of the largest higher education institutions in Norway. A broad range of academic programmes are offered at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels.

Our ambition is to build stronger and more solid academic and research environments that will interact nationally and internationally. The aim is to become a recognized actor on the international higher education arena. Increased international cooperation and engagement in externally funded projects will work towards this goal.

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences has an open position for a PhD research fellow in Advanced Nano materials for Clean Energy Applications

The PhD research fellow will be part of the research group on Advanced Nano materials for Clean Energy and Health Applications (ANCEHA) at the Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics.

The research group is conducting research on advanced nanomaterials for Photovoltaic applications, energy storage and health applications. A variety of nano materials are simulated, synthesized and characterized for different purposes.

ANCEHA research group has a number of research projects including international collaboration projects under INCP, UTFORSK and NORPART programs funded by Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ANCEHA has been focusing specially on nanomaterials for third generation solar cell technologies, such as Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells (QDSSC), Inverted Organic Solar Cells (IOSC) and CZTS Thin film solar cells. The conversion efficiencies of these solar cell technologies are still not competitive in the PV sector, but in the recent times, the new comer Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) show high promise in achieving the longstanding aim of producing efficient, cheap and flexible solar cells that could compete with Si-based solar cells in the future.

ANCEHA has been concentrating on PSCs for the past two years, and working on different approaches to enhance the efficiency and stability of PSCs. The primary objective of this PhD project is to implement new nano structures and optimizing processes to develop high efficient, environmentally stable perovskite solar cells. The PhD research fellow will carry out the research work with our national and international partners and will have research stays at our collaborating institutions abroad.

Qualifications

The PhD research fellow should have master's degree either in Chemistry, Physics, Nanotechnology, Material Sciences or Energy technology or in a closely related field, or have submitted the master's thesis before the application deadline. In the latter case, it is required that the master`s degree be awarded within 4 weeks after the application deadline.

A solid experimental background in nanomaterials is required for the PhD position.

In addition to the required educational background, the following criteria will be evaluated: competence and grades on completed course work, quality of the master's thesis (excellent grade, equivalent of grade B or better on the ECTS grading system) publications (if any), research and teaching experience.

The candidate must be diligent and display the ability to work independently, supplemented with regular guidance, and is expected to carry out high-quality research and to publish the results in international workshops, conferences, and journals.

The PhD research fellow must enroll in the PhD programme at our collaborating partner, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, and must meet the formal admission requirements for admission into the PhD programme. 25% of the 4-year period will be designated to administrate the laboratory related tasks. An application for enrolment should first be submitted after an appointment is made and the supervisor will help with this procedure. The candidate must be enrolled as a PhD student within 3 months from the start of the employment. It is a requirement that the successful candidate has their workplace at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Application procedure

Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel of three members. Applicants are asked to submit their application and CV online. Please use the link “Apply for this job” (“Søk stillingen”). The following documentation should be uploaded as an attachment to the online application:

• Master Thesis
• Copies of selected academic publications
• A CV with a complete list of academic publications
• Diplomas and certificates

Applicants should indicate which publications or parts of publications should be given special consideration in the evaluation. If the documents submitted are not in a Scandinavian language or in English, the applicants must submit certified translations of these. The transcripts must specify the topics, the course works, and the grades at the bachelor`s and master`s degree levels.

Applicants should note that the evaluation will be based on the documentation submitted electronically via Jobbnorge within the submission deadline. The applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the documentation is submitted before the closing date. It is of utmost importance that all publications to be considered in the evaluation are uploaded as an attachment with the application, since these are sent electronically to the expert panel. Applications cannot be sent by e-mail or to individuals at the college.

Salary

Initial salaries will be offered at grade 50 (code 1017) in the Civil Service pay grade table scale. There is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund. The successful candidate must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.

General information

The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State Employees and Civil Servants in Norway. Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.

State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and sex composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.

Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected.

Homepage

Contact:

• Professor Dhayalan Velauthapillai, phone: 55 58 77 11, email: Dhayalan.Velauthapillai@hvl.no
• Dr. Kristin Fanebust Hetland, Head of the Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics, phone: 47 988 31 111, email: Kristin.Hetland@hvl.no

Apply for this job

Søknadsfrist: 03.08.2018

Web: www.hvl.no

Kontakt: Professor Dhayalan Velauthapillai

Telefon: 55 58 77 11

E-post: Dhayalan.Velauthapillai@hvl.no

Kontakt 2: Dr. Kristin Fanebust Hetland (Head of the Department of Computing)

Telefon: 47 988 31 111

E-post: Kristin.Hetland@hvl.no