Postdoctoral Researcher for CdTe Photovoltaics

Golden, CO, United States

Posting Title Postdoctoral Researcher for CdTe Photovoltaics . Location CO - Golden . Position Type Postdoc (Fixed Term) . Hours Per Week 40 . COVID-19 Safety Protocols Employment at NREL is contingent upon your compliance with all NREL and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) safety protocols and mitigation efforts directed at the COVID-19 pandemic. Working at NREL The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes. NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves. Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet. Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role. Job Description The Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium (CTAC) is seeking a post-doctoral research associate to support the consortium’s efforts to enhance U.S. technology leadership and competitiveness in CdTe photovoltaics (PV). A successful applicant for this position will perform detailed characterization of CdTe surfaces and interfaces at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory using surface sensitive spectroscopic methods such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). In addition to applying already developed analytical methods, the research will involve pushing the state-of-the-art in surface and interface characterization methods. Work in this position will be highly interdisciplinary and will involve close collaboration with in-house, industry, and university researchers in pursuit of DOE goals for deployment of renewable and efficient energy technologies. A particular focus will be on next generation CdTe-based photovoltaics. In addition to experimental work characterizing surfaces and interfaces, candidates should be prepared to help find solutions to device performance barriers that are identified in the course of their investigation. For that reason, an ideal candidate would have experience with thin-film fabrication processes such as close-space sublimation, evaporation, reactive sputtering, and metal-organic vapor deposition. Additional experience with surface modification processes such as chemical etching, chemical deposition, and atomic layer deposition is desirable. Experience with complementary semiconductor characterization techniques such as time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and current-voltage analysis are also highly desired. While the focus of this position will be CdTe photovoltaics, there will be opportunities to work on other areas of materials research. There will also be opportunities for professional development, such as proposal writing, and progression towards becoming an independent researcher. MCCS Directorate . Basic Qualifications Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years. Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications Qualified candidates must demonstrate skills in interpreting and assessing the experimental results and have a demonstrated record of success from graduate and/or post-graduate work with presenting and publishing results. Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills are essential. Teamwork and collaboration are essential and successful candidates will need the ability to partner and team internally and externally. Inclusion and diversity are core values, and the candidate will be expected to support a work environment that maximizes the unique talents and innovative ideas of every worker. Basic Qualifications Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years . Additional Required Qualifications PhD in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. . Preferred Qualifications Preferred Qualifications Degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, materials science, or similar.

Experience with one or more of the following: XPS and AES, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), inverse photoelectron spectroscopy (IPES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)

Experience in thin-film growth

Experience in basic thin-film solar-cell characterization techniques

Experience in time-resolved photoluminescence

Experience in quantitative PV cell-performance modeling (e.g., Sentaurus, SCAPS, COMSOL, etc.)

Experience setting up/building custom research equipment

Experience programming in at least one language

Knowledge of device physics

Demonstration of research capability to solve challenging problems with limited guidance.

Good communication and writing skills.

Creative, independent, innovative, and adaptable.

. Submission Guidelines Please note that to be considered, an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application. . EEO Policy NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws. EEO is the Law | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Reasonable Accommodations E-Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify |For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce. . Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week) Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $71,300 - $117,600 NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions. Benefits Summary Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Based on eligibility rules

Submission Guidelines Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application. . EEO Policy NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws. EEO is the Law | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Reasonable Accommodations E-Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify |For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

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