There is presently a large interest in designing and fabricating novel materials structures that help enhance the energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells. This project involves the use of metal nanostructures to enhance the coupling of light into thin-film solar cells. Arrays of metal nanoparticles will be designed and fabricated to enhance light trapping in thin cells; special nanoscale geometries will be designed to concentrate sunlight and use non-linear effects to upconvert infrared to visible light.

The project focuses on understanding basic physical phenomena while device applications will also be pursued. The project involves state-of-the art nanofabrication using electron-beam lithography, soft lithography and focussed ion beam techniques, numerical simulations, and near-field and far-field optical (photocurrent) spectroscopy. The project will be carried out with partners at the California Institute of Technology and Stanford University.

University Graduate
Masters degree or equivalent in physics or materials science.

Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter

Photonic Materials

Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2000 - 2500

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2457
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years
Maximum hours per week: 40

Additional conditions of employment:
When fulfilling a PhD position at the FOM foundation, you will get the status of junior scientist.
You will have an employee status and can participate in all the employee benefits FOM offers. You will get a contract for 4 years. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 2,457 euro gross per month.
You are supposed to have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term with FOM.
A training programme is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for the additional education and supervising that you specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of 10% of your time). The conditions of employment of the FOM-foundation are laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres (CAO-Onderzoekinstellingen), more exclusive information is available at this website under Personnel.
'The 'FOM-sollicitatiecode' (in Dutch) applies to this position.

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Prof.dr. Albert Polman
Telephone number: +31 (0)20 608 12 34
E-mail address:

 
Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

You can apply for this job before 20-02-2009 by sending your application to:

Please quote vacancy #0808.41
Please send your:
- Resume;
- Motivation on why you want to join the group (max. 1 page).

Applications without this motivation will not be taken into account. However, with this motivation your application will receive our full attention.

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number AT79604.