PhD Position in High Performance Organic Photovoltaics

The Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Energy Devices (SDU CAPE), Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for a 3-year PhD position within the DFF funded project LuminOPV. The position is open from Dec. 1, 2026, and the specific start date will be agreed with the successful candidates. 

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. The DFF LuminOPV project will explore aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active molecular materials to control photophysical processes, molecular organization, and energy losses in organic photovoltaics. Complementary interface engineering and passivation strategies will be employed to optimize charge extraction, suppress interfacial defects, enhance operational stability, and facilitate scalable organic solar cells and modules. 

This PhD project focuses specifically on the design and development of AIE-active molecular materials for next-generation organic photovoltaics. The project will be part of the DFF1 project, and research stays abroad is part of the position. Most 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 hold a master’s degree in a relevant field (chemistry, material science, physics, electrical engineering and similar). Preferred candidates have experience with some of the following: Organic synthesis, molecular photophysics, organic and/or hybrid semiconductors, thin films and interfaces, and organic photovoltaics. Due to the high 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 

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. 

Further information 

For information about the CAPE research center, please see https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/cape 

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

Further information about this position is available from Associate Professor Vida Engmann, e-mail: [email protected].

If you experience technical problems, please contact our email support.

Application

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

• Motivated application. 
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Master’s and Bachelor’s degree certificates or equivalent, including transcripts of grades (original and an 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).
• 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.

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked, allow binding and may not be password protected. 

SUBMISSION GUIDE: Motivated application must be uploaded under ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae must be uploaded under ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents must be uploaded under ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files with a maximum 50 MB per file). 

The application deadline is October 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST) 

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an expert. 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.  

Enrollment and employment terms

Appointment as a PhD fellow is a 3-year salaried position, and the monthly gross salary incl. pension is 37.075 DKK. If you have relevant postgraduate experience, you may be placed on a higher salary step. 

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 including the associated circular on the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for PhD fellows as described therein as well as the Protocol on PhD fellows signed by the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). 

Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements. As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process. SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary. Further information on salary and taxation. 

Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

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The University of Southern Denmark wishes its 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, is subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).

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.