PhD Position in Physics and Nanotechnology

Dnr: 313-608-10 PhD Position in Physics and Nanotechnology with focus on: Organic Solar Cells, Printed Electronics and Biomimetics to start in September 2010 The Department of Physics (www.physics.umu.se) is growing rapidly and new exciting opportunities have arisen in the fields of flexible electronic devices, photonics, light emitting devices and solar cells.Several new groups have been created in the past 5 years and Umeå is becoming a world leading center of excellence in photonics, light-emitting and light-harvesting devices.Recent publications in leading scientific revues, e.g.Nature Materials, Advanced Materials, etc?as well as in popular journals such as The Economist (Feb 2010) are proof of this success.A fully funded PhD position in the field of flexible and biomimetic organic/hybrid solar cells is now available.The position is for 4 years (with possibility to extend by one additional year with a teaching assistantship).The salary is generous by international standards, and working conditions are excellent.The project is a challenging, interdisciplinary and high-impact research aimed at developing novel flexible solar cells for printed electronic devices.Project The project will focus on improving the performance of organic/hybrid solar cells, and on building a functional flexible device.Several aspects of solar cell design will be studied to increase light absorption, enhance energy transfer to the cell, improve charge transfer and the overall device performance.Biomimetic principles will also be applied to improve the solar cell performance, and to create flexible devices with improved adhesive properties on various surfaces.We will use state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques, self-assembly methods, as well as characterization of the structures and measurement of the absorption and electronic properties of the devices.Note: parts of this research will be done in collaboration with groups at the University of Cambridge, UK, and some work will be performed in Cambridge by the successful candidate.Experience in one or several of the following would be highly advantageous: micro- and nano-fabrication techniques, self-assembly, light/matter interaction, optics, photonics, electronic devices, polymers, modeling and programming.Your background: Physics, Applied Physics, Materials Science or Engineering.Application The application should include: * a letter of motivation (max.1 page), * a CV that includes information on previous education, experience and interests, * copies of transcripts for the bachelor or master degrees, * any scientific written work such as thesis and publications, * the address, email and phone number of three reference persons you have studied or worked with, and who are willing to act as referees.Applications will be discarded or, if the applicant so wishes, returned two years after the position has been filled.Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format.