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Position: Postdoctoral Researcher – High-Efficiency Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells (open for applications as of December 1st, 2025)
Start Date: Immediately available
Research Place: Aydin Group, Department of Chemistry, LMU Munich
Contract Duration: 1 year (+1 year extension possible)
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Position Overview
The Aydin Group at LMU Munich is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to advance high-efficiency perovskite–silicon tandem solar cell technologies. The successful candidate will work closely with PhD researchers and contribute to the group’s integrated development, characterization, and simulation efforts in next-generation photovoltaic devices.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development and optimization of ultra-high-efficiency perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells.

Perform advanced device characterization, experimental loss analysis, and simulations for single- and multijunction solar cells.

Conduct stability testing of tandem devices for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications.

Manage assigned research tasks and ensure timely completion of project deliverables.

Disseminate research findings through project meetings, peer-reviewed publications, and international conferences.

Prepare regular technical reports summarizing project progress and results.

Support national and international project proposal writing.

Contribute to teaching activities within the Physical Chemistry Department (up to 25% of working time).

Required Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who possess:

Demonstrated experience in fabricating high-efficiency perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells.

Strong experimental capabilities and proficiency with advanced thin-film deposition and materials processing tools, including those within the Aydin Group’s device fabrication line and the broader LMU Chemistry and e-conversion research infrastructure (LMU Chemistry & Physics; TUM Physics, Chemistry, and Walter Schottky Institute).

Experience with machine learning or programming (advantageous but not required).

Ability to design and execute experiments, apply advanced characterization methods, and interpret complex datasets.

Proven ability to work collaboratively in a highly interconnected research team.

Strong sense of responsibility, motivation, scientific rigor, and the ability to work efficiently toward defined goals.

A PhD in chemistry (physical chemistry preferred), physics, engineering, materials science, or a closely related discipline.

Strong written and verbal communication skills; German language skills are beneficial but not required.

Benefits

Membership in one of the leading international research groups in tandem photovoltaics, with opportunities to build an extensive professional network.

A dynamic, diverse, inclusive, and academically stimulating research environment.

Laboratory facilities are centrally located at the LMU Munich Chemistry Department, easily accessible by public transportation in a bicycle-friendly city.

Living in a vibrant, international city with extensive cultural and social opportunities.

LMU Munich is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to gender equality and diversity.

Position compensated at 100% TV-L E13.

Application Process
Applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF file:

A research statement (max. two pages) outlining alignment with the position, including relevant strengths and prior achievements.

A curriculum vitae and copies of B.Sc. and M.Sc. transcripts.

Contact information for two referees.

Please send your application to erkan.aydin@cup.uni-muenchen.de with the exact subject line:
Application: Postdoc Tandem Solar Cells – [Your Name]

Review of applications will begin upon receipt. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Applications from severely disabled individuals will be given preference where candidates are equally qualified.

For future position announcements, follow via LinkedIn and X.

Individual Scholarships

Aydin Group always accepts applications for the individual scholarships listed below (or others not listed here). Interested candidates are required to submit a complete set of application documents, which includes;

A CV and a copy of their PhD/MSc transcript,

A research statement highlighting how the candidate aligns with the project tasks (a maximum length of two pages),

A summary of the key publications giving details of contributions (a maximum length of one page),

The contact information of the three referees

to erkan.aydin@cup.uni-muenchen.de

For PhDs Candidates

DAAD (non-German any nationalities) [Application deadline in October]
CSC (only for Chinese candidates), LMU-CSC website, Shanghai Ranking: LMU is the best German university [Application deadline in March]
LMU-CSC Program (only for Chinese candidates) [Application deadline in March]
DBU Doctoral Scholarships (for German speakers) [Application deadline in October]
Stiftung Nagelschneider (proposal is required in German) [Application deadline in October]
TUBITAK 2213 Overseas Graduate Scholarship Program (for Turkish candidates) [Always open]
TUBITAK 2214-A (for Turkish students for a visit during their PhD) [Application deadline in August]
or other external funding programs

For Postdoctoral Fellows

MSCA Individual Fellowship (any nationalities, only for candidates applying from out of Germany) [Application deadline in September]
Georg Forster Research Fellowship (any nationalities, only for candidates applying from out of Germany) [Always open]
Humboldt Research Fellowship (any nationalities, only for candidates applying from out of Germany) [Always open]
CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship (only Brazilian researchers) [Always open]
Walter Benjamin Programme (any nationalities, only for candidates applying from out of LMU Munich) [Always open]
Chinese Government Scholarships (only for Chinese candidates) [Application deadline in May]
Sino-German (CSC-DAAD) Postdoc Scholarship Program (only for Chinese candidates) [Application deadline in November]
TUBITAK 2219 - International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program for Turkish Citizens [Application deadline in August]
or other external funding programs

Erasmus+ Traineeship & Research Opportunities for Master’s Students

Are you a master's student or a recent graduate looking for international experience? The Erasmus+ program offers funded internships and research stays in universities, companies, and research institutes across Europe!

Open to master's students and recent graduates (within 12 months).
Duration: 2 to 12 months.
Monthly financial support based on the host country.

--> More details: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

For application details, check with your university’s Erasmus office and reach out us!

Praktikum and MSc students

Students are encouraged to email the principal investigator at erkan.aydin@cup.uni-muenchen.de after discussing their interests with the postdoctoral fellows and PhD students for preliminary discussions (Meet with the team).

LMU Munich Rankings

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich ranks among the top two German universities according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, securing the #2 position in Germany and #34 worldwide. Moreover, LMU holds the #1 position among German universities in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Expired position calls

(1) PhD position in all perovskite tandem solar cells for space applications (open for applications as of March 1st, 2024)

Your tasks and responsibilities:

The INPERSPACE project focuses on an emerging but extremely urgent challenge in the “new space era”: meeting the sharply increasing demand for space-grade photovoltaics in a cost-efficient manner. After the significant reduction in rocket launching costs, photovoltaic requirements change from high-cost-low demand to low-cost-high demand in this new space era. Towards this goal, ultra-efficient multijunction perovskite-based tandem solar cells will be developed and realized in real space conditions. The topic is scientifically intriguing as space has extreme conditions. Developing solar cells for these conditions may lead to new scientific phenomena and innovations. Within the framework of this project;

You will manufacture high-efficiency all perovskite tandem cells, both dual and triple junction.
You will conduct the specific device characterization, experimental loss analysis, and simulation of single- and multijunction solar cells.
You will do space-specific tests and contribute to the development of the custom test setups.
You will manage the assigned project tasks towards successful completion.
You will disseminate the research outputs in project meetings, peer-reviewed journals, and international conferences.
You will write regular reports for the project outputs.

Your qualifications:

We are seeking candidates with interest in all-perovskite tandem solar cells;

Desirable qualifications include a solid background in the fabrication of highly efficient perovskite solar cells.
The position, focusing on device fabrication, demands a high level of experimental skills and involves operating sophisticated deposition equipment.
Essential skills include the ability to design and conduct experiments, utilize advanced characterization techniques, and interpret measured data.
The candidate is expected to work collaboratively in a strongly interconnected team and should demonstrate the ability to thrive in a team environment.
Personal attributes sought include a strong sense of responsibility, high motivation for innovation and excellence, and flexibility to work efficiently and deliver results.
Applicants are required to possess an M.Sc. degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, materials science, or closely related fields.
Applicants must have good spoken and written communication skills.

Benefits:

Being part of the internationally connected research group, and building a wide network.
Working in an inclusive, dynamic, international, and academically stimulating environment.
Working in a place that can be accessed by public transport (our laboratory facilities are centrally located in LMU Munich Chemistry Department).
Living in an international city with the possibility of several social activities,
LMU Munich is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty. We therefore actively promote gender equality.
The position is funded by ERC Starting Grant of INPERSPACE (67.5% TV-L-E13) for a fixed period of three years.

Contact:

Prospective candidates are required to submit a complete set of application documents, which includes;

A research statement highlighting how the candidate aligns with the project description (a maximum length of two pages),
A CV, copies of their B.Sc. and M.Sc. transcripts,
The contact information of the two referees,

to erkan.aydin@cup.uni-muenchen.de. The review of applications will start as soon as the application is received and shortlisted candidates will be notified via email to schedule an interview. The deadline for the application is April 30^th, 2024. The position is available starting May 1^st, 2024, and onwards. Applications from severely disabled individuals are given preference in cases of essentially equal qualifications.

PhD position in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (open for applications as of March 1st, 2024)

Your tasks and responsibilities:

The INPERSPACE project focuses on an emerging but extremely urgent challenge in the “new space era”: meeting the sharply increasing demand for space-grade photovoltaics in a cost-efficient manner. After the significant reduction in rocket launching costs, photovoltaic requirements change from high-cost-low demand to low-cost-high demand in this new space era. Towards this goal, ultra-efficient multijunction perovskite-based tandem solar cells will be developed and realized in real space conditions. Recently, PSCs coupled with c-Si in tandem form reached ~34% PCE. Tandem photovoltaics achieve such high PCEs by reducing thermalization losses. The topic is scientifically intriguing as space has extreme conditions. Developing solar cells for these conditions may lead to new scientific phenomena and innovations. Within the framework of this project;

You will manufacture high-efficiency perovskite/silicon tandem cells,
You will conduct the specific device characterization, experimental loss analysis, and simulation of single- and multijunction solar cells.
You will do space-specific tests and contribute to the development of the custom test setups.
You will manage the assigned project tasks towards successful completion.
You will disseminate the research outputs in project meetings, peer-reviewed journals, and international conferences.
You will write regular reports for the project outputs.

Your qualifications:

We are seeking candidates with interest in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells;

Desirable qualifications include a solid background in the fabrication of highly efficient perovskite solar cells.
The position, focusing on device fabrication, demands a high level of experimental skills and involves operating sophisticated deposition equipment.
Essential skills include the ability to design and conduct experiments, utilize advanced characterization techniques, and interpret measured data.
The candidate is expected to work collaboratively in a strongly interconnected team and should demonstrate the ability to thrive in a team environment.
Personal attributes sought include a strong sense of responsibility, high motivation for innovation and excellence, and flexibility to work efficiently and deliver results.
Applicants are required to possess an M.Sc. degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, materials science, or closely related fields.
Applicants must have good spoken and written communication skills.

Benefits:

Being part of the internationally connected research group, and building a wide network.
Working in an inclusive, dynamic, international, and academically stimulating environment.
Working in a place that can be accessed by public transport (our laboratory facilities are centrally located in LMU Munich Chemistry Department).
Living in an international city with the possibility of several social activities,
LMU Munich is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty. We therefore actively promote gender equality.
The position is funded by ERC Starting Grant of INPERSPACE (67.5% TV-L-E13) for a fixed period of three years.

Contact:

Prospective candidates are required to submit a complete set of application documents, which includes;

A research statement highlighting how the candidate aligns with the project description (a maximum length of two pages),
A CV, copies of their B.Sc. and M.Sc. transcripts,
The contact information of the two referees,

Postdoctoral researcher in perovskite-based tandem solar cells (open for applications as of March 1st, 2024)

Your tasks and responsibilities:

Metal halide perovskites are high-quality semiconductors due to their high absorption coefficient, long carrier diffusion lengths, and remarkable defect tolerance. As a result, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a ‘paradigm shift’ in the PV field, with PCEs >26% (AM1.5G, Earth spectrum). PSCs are particularly appealing for tandem PVs thanks to their bandgap tunability between 1.18–2.30 eV. Tandem PVs promise higher PCEs by reducing thermalization losses. This is achieved by splitting the solar spectrum into multiple subcells that are optimized to a specific range. Initially, PSCs were coupled with c-Si in tandem form, and this concept recently reached ~34% PCE. Meanwhile, we can replace c-Si bottom cells with perovskites and form all-perovskite tandem solar cells. Both these device configurations are of interest in our project, and we would like to make them stable in space extremes and test them in the real space environment.

In this position;

You will actively contribute to the development of high-efficiency perovskite-based tandem solar cells and work closely with the group’s PhD students.
You will conduct the specific device characterization, experimental loss analysis, and simulation of single- and multijunction solar cells.
You will evaluate the feasibility of the perovskite-based tandem solar cells for space applications with space-specific testing protocols.
You will be responsible for the hands-on processing of individual process steps.
You will coordinate the development work and experiments in cooperation within LMU Munich and other institutes.
You will manage the assigned project tasks towards successful completion.
You will disseminate the research outputs in project meetings, peer-reviewed journals, and international conferences.
You will write regular reports for the project outputs.

Your qualifications:

We are seeking candidates with:

Solid background in the fabrication of highly efficient perovskite solar cells more specifically perovskite-based tandem solar cells.
The position, focusing on device fabrication, demands a high level of experimental skills and involves operating sophisticated deposition equipment.
Essential skills include the ability to design and conduct experiments, utilize advanced characterization techniques, and interpret measured data.
The candidate is expected to work collaboratively in a strongly interconnected team and should demonstrate the ability to thrive in a team environment.
Personal attributes sought include a strong sense of responsibility, high motivation for innovation and excellence, and flexibility to work efficiently and deliver results.
Applicants are required to possess a PhD degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, materials science, or closely related fields.
Applicants must have good spoken and written communication skills.

Benefits:

Being part of the internationally connected research group and building a wide network.
Working in an inclusive, dynamic, international, and academically stimulating environment.
Working in a place that can be accessed by public transport (our laboratory facilities are located at the LMU Chemistry Department).
Living in an international city with the possibility of several social activities.
LMU Munich is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty. We therefore actively promote gender equality.
The position is funded by the ERC Starting Grant of INPERSPACE (TV-L-E13) for one year, and a potential extension to the second year.

Contact:

Prospective candidates are required to submit a complete set of application documents, which includes;

A research statement highlighting how the candidate aligns with the project tasks (a maximum length of two pages),
A CV and a copy of their PhD transcript,
A summary of the 3 key publications giving details of contributions (a maximum length of one page),
The contact information of the three referees,

to erkan.aydin@cup.uni-muenchen.de. The review of applications will start as soon as the application is received and shortlisted candidates will be notified via email to schedule an interview. The deadline for the application is April 30^th, 2024. The position is available as of May 1^st, 2024, and onwards. Applications from severely disabled individuals are given preference in cases of essentially equal qualifications.