TWO DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY (END USE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY), UNIVERSITY OF AGDER, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
Ref 47/08
Two doctoral fellowships in End Use of Photovoltaic Technology are available at the University of Agder. The University wishes to fill these vacancies as soon as possible. The posts are in the Faculty of Engineering and Science which is located in Grimstad, Norway.
The PhD positions are part of a project that takes place in cooperation between Elkem Solar, University of Agder, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Aalborg University and the municipality of Kristiansand, and are financed principally by the Research Council of Norway and Elkem Solar. The project title is “End Use of Photovoltaic Technology in Norway”.
The principal hypothesis in the project is that solar electricity is a viable alternative even in Norway. From this vantage point the project aims to develop a scientific knowledge base that can be used to answer whether, and under which premises, the hypothesis is true. Furthermore, the project aims to develop algorithms, equipment and new power electronics, which should contribute in making solar based electricity more competitive. The knowledge accumulating in the project will possibly form a basis for a new industry within the end use segment of photovoltaic technology in Norway.
The Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University of Agder cooperates with the Department of Electric Power Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and the Institute of Energy Technology at Aalborg University, Denmark, within PhD education in renewable energy, including electricity production from solar cells.
The two doctoral fellows will work on separate parts of the project, but they form a team where the parts will mutually benefit from each other. It is therefore expected that the two doctoral fellows cooperate.
For post 1 the focus will be on field measurements of photovoltaic systems and development of software and hardware based solar simulator systems, which are able to emulate the actual observed behaviour.
For post 2 the focus will be on development of power electronics based interfaces for solar electric systems.
The project description, which is the basis for the financing of the project from the Research Council of Norway, contains more detailed information, and can be sent to interested candidates on request.
As part of their PhD-studies, the candidates must complete courses on relevant subjects at the doctoral level corresponding to half a year of full-time studies. This will take place at one of the cooperating institutions.
It is expected that the candidates become an integrated part of relevant academic environments at the Faculty of Engineering and Science in the University of Agder.
The posts require candidates with a Master’s degree or equivalent within a relevant area. A background in electrical power engineering, physics, electronics or similar could be suitable. However, an interest in power electronics is desirable for post 2. For both posts it is expected that the candidates have an interest in working with renewable energy in general, and end use of photovoltaic technology in particular. The applicants must fulfil the necessary demands for acceptance within the PhD-programmes at the cooperating institutions. It is a prerequisite that a doctoral fellow is accepted into such a programme within three months of their receiving an appointment.
The posts require an ability to work in a goal-oriented, organized, concentrated and independent manner. Emphasis will be placed on personal qualifications and collaborative abilities. When assessing applications, emphasis will also be placed on the applicants previously awarded examination marks and relevant practice as well as any previously completed development work and/or published work.
The working language is English. Knowledge in a Nordic language is an advantage.
The doctoral fellowships are awarded for a time period of up to four years, with 25% teaching duties in the period. A more thorough definition of the field of work and other conditions are agreed upon at time of appointment. It is a prerequisite that the candidates aim towards finishing a PhD degree during the scholarship period.
It may be necessary for the doctoral fellows to spend part of their time at external institutions or cooperating partners in Norway or abroad during the scholarship period. The doctoral fellows are, however, expected to spend most of their time at the University of Agder. It is expected that the doctoral fellows publish scientific papers in English, and that they participate at conferences as part of their PhD education.
The public sector aims to reflect the diversity found in the population to the highest possible degree. It is therefore a personnel/political objective to achieve equality with regard to age and gender and to recruit persons possessing immigrant backgrounds. Persons with immigrant backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the position.
Women are encouraged to apply.
The appointments will be made by the Appointment Committee for Educational and Research Positions at Agder University. Appointees have rights and obligations in accordance with the regulations which apply to their position at all times.
The position is placed in the State salary plan 17.515, code 1017, stage 43. A statutory deposit is made to the state pension fund.
The application should include a CV, at least two academic references and certified copies of certificates bearing the stamp of the awarding institution, and letters of recommendation. All must be submitted in a set of four copies. Scientific publications and other R&D activities to be included in the evaluation, as well as a publication list, must be submitted in three copies. The applicant bears sole responsibility for submitting sufficient and complete documentation.
The application should contain a brief description of the applicant’s background, his/her fields of interest and their relevance for the PhD position. A project description exists and can be sent to applicants.
It must be clear from the application whether it concerns post 1 or post 2, and which one has first priority in case both posts are applied for.
If there should arise differences of interpretation between the original Norwegian description of the posts and the English rendering of the same, the Norwegian interpretation has priority.
Applications may be sent to University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science c/o Advisor Anne Lise de Lange, Servicebox 509, 4898 Grimstad, Norway, marked with reference number 47/08.
Application deadline: April 30, 2008
A more comprehensive description of the posts may be obtained by contacting professor Ole-Morten Midtgård, tel. +47 37 25 32 38, e-mail: ole-morten.midtgard[ at ]uia.no or Institute leader Rein Terje Thorstensen, tel. +47 37 25 32 16, e-mail: rein.t.thorstensen[ at ]uia.no
Internet address: http://www.uia.no/stilling
