Post-Doctoral Researcher for CdTe Photovoltaics
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CO - Golden
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Postdoc (Fixed Term)
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40
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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 ten 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.
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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.
CdTe photovoltaics are the most successful thin-film PV technology in the world. While this technology is directly competing with Si at the utility-scale, there is still foundational work that can enable significant advances with an industry poised to implement them. The focus of this position is the synthesis and detailed characterization of Cd(Se,Te) devices and test structures for investigating the causes for photovoltage loss and ultimately mitigating these losses. In addition to experimental work fabricating and characterizing samples, a key part of this position will be using quantitative microscopic-based models in a hypothesis-driven manner to understand results and propose next steps. The successful candidate will have significant experience with thin-film fabrication processes such as close-space sublimation, evaporation, and reactive sputtering. Additional experience with characterization methods such as device testing under solar simulation, quantum efficiency, capacitance-voltage, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence is highly desired. Further general skills such as programming, machining, and equipment automation are considered a plus. Direct experience in CdTe or even photovoltaics is not an explicit requirement, but the successful candidate will be expected to have spent time gaining some familiarity with the field and its challenges as well as demonstrate applicable skills along with the willingness and ability to learn quickly.
The successful candidate will work as part of a larger team including staff scientists, students, and external collaborators (industry and academia).
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 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.
MCCS Directorate
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Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
PhD in Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
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The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $73,200 - $120,800
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 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.
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
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.
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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, domestic partner 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.
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