Researcher in Materials Physics for Solar Energy Applications

Job Description

Position as Researcher in materials physics for solar energy applications is available at the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology.

The position is for a period of 12 months, with a possibility of extension.

Preferred starting date is 1 September 2026.

Place of work is the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology at Gaustad, Oslo.

We are seeking a researcher with a genuine interest in novel materials for solar energy applications. You must be a team player, able to work independently and take a leading role in an interdisciplinary scientific research team. Particularly, this includes the usage and further development of the combinatorial material synthesis and connected high-throughput experimental characterization methodology available at the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN). The scientific focus of this position is on the explorative discovery of novel semiconducting materials for solar energy harvesting using combinatorial materials science. The candidate shall realize spatially-addressable material libraries by pulsed laser deposition and apply high-throughput characterization for the determination of relevant physical properties. Promising identified materials shall be integrated in photovoltaic or photelectrochemical demonstrator devices.

SMN comprises UiO's focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology. The Centre is an interdisciplinary collaboration between five research groups in physics and chemistry, and spearheads the MN Faculty's efforts for sustainable energy solutions. The successful candidate is expected to work as part of a team in SMN and together with other fellows in the SOLARIS project.

SOLARIS is an interdisciplinary flagship project at UiO, which addresses fundamental materials science on solar energy materials and solar energy harvesting with an application-oriented focus. The project combines thin film deposition and physical and chemical property mapping. The overall objective of SOLARIS is to significantly advance the field of solar energy materials science and promoting the shift towards green economy in long-term perspective.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree that is equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in physics, nanotechnology, or a closely related subject. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defense are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Expertise in combinatorial material science and high-throughput material parameter mapping
• Background in pulsed laser deposition
• Background in the field of semiconductor physics
• Understanding the principles of solar cells and tandem solar cell concepts
• Extensive experience in characterizing the fundamental properties of semiconductor materials by, e.g., X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmittance, spectroscopic ellipsometry, Hall effect measurements or similar

Desired qualifications

• Background in coding control software for scientific equipment
• Background in coding software for data analysis and representation
• Background in handling of scientific data and metadata via electronic lab notebooks
• Demonstrated ability to lead and conduct high-quality independent research within an interdisciplinary research team.
• Proven experience in preparing and submitting scientific manuscripts and articles for publication
• Demonstrated proficiency in the preparation and delivery of scientific presentations in English.
• Demonstrated expertise in the supervision and mentorship of doctoral or master's students

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

Personal skills

• Self-motivation, creativity, genuine curiosity about the subject, work discipline, professional ethics, and ambition
• Good social, communication, organization, managing (pro-active organization and planning of meetings and workshops) and collaboration skills
• Interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary scientific environment

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal skills.

We can offer you

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment.
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours. A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Researcher, position code 1109 in salary range NOK from 595 000 - to 708 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

We need different perspectives in our work

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO's work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues, could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

We hope you will apply for the position with us.

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
• Letters of recommendation
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnem??lsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnem??lsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Formal regulations

The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

Please see Rules for the use of research posts SKO 1108, 1109, 1110 and 1183 at UiO.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.