Research Associate

Classification: Academic Level A
Salary package: $82,936-$104,099 per annum plus 17% superannuation
Terms: Full time, Fixed Term (up to 12 months)

• Join a world-class photovoltaics research group
• Contribute to the development of the next generation of solar cells
• Opportunities for industry engagement and international collaboration

About the College
The ANU by 2025 Strategic Plan calls for the University to serve society through transformational research and education. As one of the great universities of the world, ANU is driven by a culture of excellence in everything we do. Our lived experience is increasingly one of large-scale systems of people, whose actions and interactions are influenced by our digital, physical and biological environment. The ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics (CECC) hosts three of the key disciplines necessary to help us design, build, regulate and secure the future. 

CECC brings together expertise in social, technical, computational, ecological and scientific systems to build a new approach to systems design and build new national capabilities in data-driven policy and business development. The work we do in the College directly supports one of the four pillars of ANU by 2025: to strengthen our national mission and meet our unique responsibilities as Australia’s national university. We will deliver on our mission by building a strong community, providing transformative educational experiences, conducting high-impact research, seeking meaningful engagement, and becoming a resilient organisation post COVID-19. 

We welcome and openly acknowledge differences in expertise, research / education / professional focus, experience and perspective.

CECC is a vibrant and diverse community of more than three thousand students, staff, and visitors. Our College comprises three schools: the School of Computing, School of Cybernetics, and School of Engineering, supported by the Professional Services Group.

School of Engineering - The School of Engineering brings together a diverse and welcoming community that is motivated to seek “wicked problems”. We connect divergent thinkers, to explore and pose solutions, that cross the traditional interdisciplinary and global boundaries. We have evolved from our foundational strength in systems thinking, reaching beyond traditional engineering fields. This systems approach embraces our core strengths and is shaped around four focus areas: Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechatronics. Join us in our fundamental quest of discovery and passionate pursuit of knowledge that goes beyond our lived world.

About the opportunity
We are seeking an outstanding Research Associate to join our research activities in photovoltaics under the supervision of Professor Daniel Macdonald. Applicants should have a relevant PhD in engineering, materials science, chemistry or physics, with direct experience in silicon or silicon-based tandem solar cell design, fabrication and/or characterisation. These positions will involve collaboration with other research institutes and industry partners, and are supported through projects funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

We are particularly interested in applicants with experience in the following topics:

1. Passivating contacts for high efficiency single-junction silicon solar cells.
2. Silicon bottom cells for tandem devices.
3. Novel materials for top cells in silicon-based tandems.
4. Characterisation of tandem solar cells.

Enquiries
To enquire about this role, please contact Prof Daniel Macdonald at daniel.macdonald@anu.edu.au

Our commitment to diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity
ANU is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, and particularly welcomes applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, it is practice in the ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics to actively seek a gender mix of shortlisted candidates for interview. For more information about staff equity at ANU, visit https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/respect-inclusion   

We welcome and develop diversity of backgrounds, experiences and ideas and encourage applications from individuals who may have had non-traditional career paths, who may have taken a career break, had career disruptions or who have achieved excellence in careers outside of the higher education sector. We support applicants who require flexible arrangements in their work environments or patterns. If your experience looks a little different to what we’ve described, but you’re passionate and motivated by this position, we welcome your enquiry and application. 

What we offer
The ANU provides attractive benefits and excellent support to maintain a healthy work/life balance and offers generous remuneration benefits, including four weeks paid vacation per year, assistance with relocation expenses and 17% employer contribution to superannuation. We also offer generous parental leave, the possibility of flexible and part time working arrangements, a parental and aged care support program, dual career hire programs, staff and family tuition fee discounts, ANU school holiday programs, and childcare facilities on campus. For more information, visit: https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources  

How to apply
Applicants must apply online via the ANU recruitment portal and should upload the following separate documents: 

• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including a publication list and the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees, you can complete these online when prompted in the application form. 
• A statement addressing the selection criteria. 
• A 1-page statement outlining your research objectives for the next 3 years.
• A brief statement outlining your approach to coursework education and student project supervision. 

Please note: The successful candidate may be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process. An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.