The Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Energy Devices (SDU CAPE), invites applications for a fully funded PhD fellowship in “High performance organic photovoltaic modules using Roll-to-Roll based techniques”. The starting date is August 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter, for a 3-year period.

What we offer 
The PhD position is a part of the SDU CAPE research center at the Mads Clausen Institute, SDU, where we focus on designing, developing, and bringing forward new sustainable solar energy conversion and storage technologies, in particular new thin film solar cells and modules. This PhD position is focused on the design and development of new sustainable and scalable organic solar modules with high performance. The project will be part of the European Eurostars SUNTEX project, and research stays abroad is part of the position.

The majority of your working time is devoted to your own research studies. As a PhD student you are expected to develop your own ideas and communicate scientific results in English. We offer a fully funded PhD position for the duration of three years. 

The successful applicant will be enrolled as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of Engineering.

What we expect
Candidates who have a previous master’s degree in a field relevant to the mentioned PhD-project may seek the fellowships (material science, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering and similar). Preferred candidates have experience with some of the following: thin film fabrication and characterization, organic and/or hybrid semiconductors, thin films and interfaces, Roll-to-Roll coating technology, thin film photovoltaic cells and modules. Due to the strong cross-disciplinary nature of the work, the candidate is expected to have excellent collaboration skills. A very good capability of communicating scientific results in English, both orally and in writing is required.

Workplace description / Research environment 

We are an international research center working in the field of green energy technologies (CAPE), and we are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our CAPE research center at University of Southern Denmark (SDU), campus Sønderborg, for developing next-generation sustainable and high performance photovoltaics. We offer a modern, inclusive, international and interdisciplinary working environment with state-of-the-art facilities as well as a strong tradition of international collaboration. Our ambition is, to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both academic excellence and departmental development.

Having a focus on green energy technologies - improving performance, device stability and up-scaling, the center has full access to an ISOS5 cleanroom and surface science laboratory facility for the preparation and characterization of thin films and photovoltaic devices, as well as a fully equipped Roll-to-Roll (R2R) facility for upscaling flexible devices. Our research center CAPE is a partner in various national and international research projects and networks that include collaboration partners from both academia and industry

Read more on: http://www.sdu.dk/en/stillinger

Contact information
For information about the Mads Clausen Institute, please see www.sdu.dk/en/mci. 

Further information about this position is available from Professor Morten Madsen, e-mail: madsen@mci.sdu.dk

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

Application procedure

Before applying the candidates are advised to read the Faculty information for prospective PhD students and the SDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and an application must include: 

• Motivation letter stating your specific interest, motivation and qualifications for the project in question (max. 2 pages). 
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, including personal contact information, describing research, publications (if any), along with any other relevant information, e.g. teaching experience, computational skills etc.
• Master’s and bachelor’s degree certificates or equivalent, including transcripts of grades (copy of original/official English translation).  
• Completed TEK PhD application form for 5+3 applicants. Find the form at the Faculty website.
• Completed TEK PhD form for calculation grade point average. Find the form at the Faculty website. 
• An official document describing the grading scheme of the awarding universities (if not Danish). 
• Only for applicants from programmes that evaluate thesis/examination project by approved/not approved: An official written assessment of the thesis or dissertation project from the grade giving institution. The statement must clearly state that the candidate has been among the top 30 pct. in the graduation class for the study programme.
• List of publications and maximum 2 examples of relevant publications (in case you have any publications).
• Three names and emails of researchers, who can provide an informed reference letter at short notice.
• References may be included, you're welcome to use the form for reference letter at the Faculty website.
• A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files of max 50 MB per file). 

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration no.) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

The application deadline is July 1, 2025, at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST)

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU.  Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.

Read about the Assessment and selection process.  

Conditions of enrollment/employment

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position, and the monthly gross salary incl. pension is 36.138DKR. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step.

The preferred start date is from August 1, 2025. 

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master's degree) at the time of enrollment and employment. Employment is contingent on enrollment approved by the PhD School. Enrollment will be in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order). Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for PhD fellows as described herein as well as the Protocol on PhD fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Further information about salary and conditions of employment. The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial evaluation, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

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The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

About SDU and Sønderborg 

The University of Southern Denmark was founded in 1966 and now as a multi-campus university has more than 27,000 students, almost 20% of whom are from abroad. It has more than 3,800 employees, and 115 different study programmes in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. Its main campus is located in Odense, while the newest campus is located in Sønderborg. 

Sønderborg encompasses both a rural idyll and the pulse of the city center. Here you will find magnificent nature with beautiful forest and a long coastline, which invites to versatile water activities, but it is in many ways a distinct study city - from the student discounts on the cafés' menu, the shopping opportunities, a festive nightlife to an active and exciting study environment characterized by professional, cultural and social networks and events. And whether you are into sports, tango, art or jazz, you will find more than 700 voluntary associations and sports clubs to back you up and give the whole family ample opportunity to unfold and cultivate their interest. Sønderborg is also a model city in Denmark on energy sustainability, in which a full CO2 neutrality will be achieved by 2029. 

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.