Postdoctoral Research Associate – Vapour-Deposited Perovskite Thin Films for Multijunction Solar Cells

Job Description

Organization: King’s College London

Department: Physics

Research Group: Functional Materials and Devices Laboratory (Patel Lab)

Location: Strand Campus, London, United Kingdom

Job ID: 147905

Project Overview

The Functional Materials and Devices Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on an EPSRC-funded project focused on developing vapour-deposited perovskite thin films for high-efficiency multijunction solar cells.

The successful candidate will engineer novel precursor materials and commission a state-of-the-art Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) system in collaboration with industrial partner Kurt J. Lesker. The project aims to enable scalable manufacturing of complex alloyed perovskite compositions for next-generation photovoltaic technologies.

Research Environment

The research will be conducted within the Department of Physics at King’s College London, with access to advanced facilities including the King’s Strand Research Facility and the London Centre of Nanotechnology. The successful candidate will collaborate with researchers, mentor MSc and PhD students, participate in international conferences, and gain experience across academic and industrial research environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop vapour-deposited perovskite thin films for multijunction solar cells.
• Engineer novel precursor materials for physical vapor deposition processes.
• Commission and optimize a new PVD deposition system.
• Perform thin-film processing and materials characterization.
• Mentor MSc and PhD students.
• Contribute to project direction, collaborations, and dissemination activities.

Essential Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• Experience with thin-film fabrication using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD).
• Experience with X-ray diffraction (XRD).
• Strong experimental design and data analysis skills.
• Ability to conduct independent research while working collaboratively.
• Demonstrated motivation to advance experimental research and scientific knowledge.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with crystal growth techniques such as Bridgman or Czochralski methods.
• Knowledge of vacuum systems.
• Experience with photovoltaic device fabrication and characterization.

Contract Details

• Full-time fixed-term appointment.
• Initial contract duration: 2 years.
• Potential extension by 1 additional year (maximum 3 years).
• Expected start date: 1 August 2026 (flexible).

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: £45,031 – £48,607 per annum including London Weighting Allowance.
• Minimum 10 days per year professional development entitlement.
• Access to training, flexible working, and career development opportunities.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Supporting statement addressing essential and desirable criteria.

Contact: Dr Jay Patel
Email: [email protected]

Application Deadline: 1 July 2026 (23:59 UK time)