The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) in Golden, Colorado, is the nation's
primary laboratory for research, development
and deployment of renewable energy and
energy efficiency technologies. NREL's
Silicon Materials and Devices Group in the
National Center for Photovoltaics has an
immediate opening for a full time (40 hours
per week) Postdoctoral Researcher. The initial
appointment is for one year, with possible
renewal for up to three years.
Job Duties
The Silicon Materials and Devices Group
develops new materials and devices for
renewable energy and other applications,
with projects ranging from basic studies to
device applications. The postdoctoral
scientist/engineer will contribute to our
innovative R&D as we develop new
photovoltaic and water-splitting devices
based upon silicon, amorphous silicon and
nanostructured ‘black' anti-reflective silicon
surfaces. Specific duties include: Close
collaboration with Group scientists in the
planning, realization, analysis and
interpretation of scientific experiments and
processing schemes for device fabrication.
Application and development of cutting-
edge characterizaPtion and modeling
techniques. Contributions to industry-
funded research on photovoltaic devices
promising electricity at reduced costs.
Publication of results in scientific journals
and conference proceedings. Presentation of
work at scientific conferences and review
meetings. Adherence to NREL's high safety
standards.
Required Education and Experience
Must be a recent Ph.D. graduate with in the last
three years.
Additional Basic Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Candidates must have a recent (within two
years) doctoral degree in Electrical
Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry,
Chemical Engineering, Semiconductor Physics
or a closely-related field and expertise in
semiconductor devices. Willingness and
ability to work in a laboratory setting to
design, fabricate and evaluate solar cell
structures. Strong scientific writing skills
demonstrated by experience in writing
quality scientific papers. Communications
skills and the ability to work collaboratively
as part of a research team.
Preferred Qualifications
A thesis or publications on silicon based
semiconductors. Experience with silicon
device fabrication in a cleanroom
environment, including wet chemical cleaning
and etching, diffusion, oxidation,
photolithography, metallization (evaporation,
screen printing), and thin film deposition
(e.g., plasma enhanced chemical vapor
deposition, evaporation, atomic-layer
deposition). Familiarity with silicon material
properties and solar cell physics, structures
and design tools (e.g., PC1D or AFORS-HET).
