DuraMat Degradation Analysis Postdoctoral Fellow

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a postdoctoral fellow within the Energy Technologies and Systems division to analyze degradation pathways of solar photovoltaic modules extracted from the scientific literature.

About the role

The HackingMaterials group has confirmed funding through the DOE CMEI Durable Module Materials Program (DuraMat) to hire a postdoc to act as a scientific "data detective." The group has assembled a large literature-derived data set of reported module degradation modes, stressors, and outcomes. The data are heterogeneous, incomplete, and often contradictory. The postdoc will apply deep knowledge of PV materials and degradation mechanisms to reconcile conflicting reports, validate the data set against established degradation science, identify gaps in the collective literature, and synthesize new mechanistic insights by connecting findings across studies. This position is ideal for an experimental PV degradation scientist who wants to leverage their mechanistic understanding at the scale of the entire published literature.

Responsibilities

• Analyze literature-extracted data on PV module degradation pathways, assessing data quality, consistency, and completeness
• Validate literature-derived conclusions against established degradation mechanisms (e.g., UV-induced degradation, damp heat, thermo-mechanical stress, delamination, metastability effects)
• Identify gaps and contradictions in reported degradation knowledge and formulate hypotheses that connect findings across studies
• Develop data analysis procedures (Python) to organize, filter, and cross-reference degradation reports across stressors, materials, and module architectures
• Collaborate with team members developing LLM-based literature extraction and agentic reasoning tools, providing domain feedback on extraction quality
• Prepare presentations and reports; write peer-reviewed journal articles

Additional Responsibilities As Needed: Assist in outreach activities, workshops, and tutorials.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field
• Deep knowledge of solar PV materials and their degradation mechanisms, including accelerated aging protocols and stressor–response relationships (UV, thermal, moisture, electrical bias, mechanical)
• Hands-on experience with PV characterization techniques (e.g., electroluminescence/photoluminescence imaging, current-voltage measurement, thermography) sufficient to critically evaluate reported measurements in the literature
• Strong data analysis skills (Python and/or MATLAB) and statistical reasoning
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to work across multi-institutional collaborations

Desired Skills

• Programmatic LLM usage or experience with LLM-extracted data sets
• Experience with IEC standards development or fielded-module reliability data

Benefits

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
• Paid vacation, sick time, and a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year
• Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)

Pay

The monthly salary range for this position is $7,987 - $8,921, with an expected starting salary of $7,987 or above. Postdoctoral positions are paid on a step schedule per union contract, with salaries predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates.

Schedule

• Full-time, 2-year postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based on performance, funding, and operational needs
• Must have less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience

This position will be performed on-site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire; visa sponsorship is not available. This position is union-represented for collective bargaining purposes.