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About Power Roll

Power Roll Ltd (PRL) is a UK-based photovoltaic technology company headquartered in the North East of England. We are developing a proprietary micro-groove solar cell architecture that enables ultra-thin, flexible perovskite photovoltaic modules manufactured using scalable roll-to-roll (R2R) processes.

Our technology has been demonstrated in >2000 cm² modules comprising over 1 million individually interconnected solar cells, manufactured at pilot scale in our County Durham facility. The architecture eliminates the need for transparent conductive oxides and enables low-cost high-throughput production compatible with flexible substrates.

Power Roll operates at the interface of advanced materials science and industrial manufacturing. Our focus is the translation of high-performance perovskite photovoltaics into scalable, bankable products.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with our recent peer-reviewed publications describing the micro-groove architecture and device development:

• ACS Applied Energy Materials (2024):
  https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsaem.4c02734

• Energy & Environmental Science (2019):
  https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2019/ee/c8ee03517b

Further information about the company, facilities, and technology platform is available at:
https://powerroll.solar

 

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship – Industrial Host

Power Roll welcomes expressions of interest from outstanding postdoctoral researchers intending to apply for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship with Power Roll as the host organisation.

Unlike traditional university-hosted fellowships, this opportunity provides:

• Direct access to an operational pilot manufacturing line

• Exposure to manufacturing readiness (MRL) frameworks

• Industrial project governance

• Integration with commercial product development teams

• Translation from materials innovation to manufacturable PV modules

• Exposure to our network of world leading experts in the growing field of photovoltaics

The successful candidate will be embedded within an industrial R&D environment and will work closely with materials scientists, process engineers, and device physicists to accelerate commercial deployment of perovskite PV technologies.

 

Research Themes of Interest

We invite proposals aligned with the commercial translation of next-generation perovskite photovoltaics, with the overarching objective of enabling technology maturation towards TRL 9 and MRL 9.

Proposed projects should align with one or more of the following areas:

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1. Sustainable Materials and Supply-Chain Resilience

Development and integration of earth-abundant, low-cost materials and processes for flexible perovskite solar cells, considering:

• Critical raw material substitution

• Elimination of scarce elements

• Manufacturing compatibility with roll-to-roll processing

• Lifecycle sustainability and supply chain robustness

 

2. Operational Stability and Degradation Mitigation

Investigation of intrinsic and extrinsic degradation mechanisms in perovskite photovoltaic devices and modules, including:

• Environmental stressor and degradation pathways

• Accelerated ageing methodologies

• Materials and architecture optimisation to enable extended operational lifetime

• Interface stability

 

3. Scale-Up from Pilot-Scale PV Cells to Commercial-Ready Modules and Photovoltaic Systems, including:

• Ink formulation and process optimisation for R2R deposition

• Integration into Power Roll’s micro-groove architecture

• Large-area uniformity control

• Yield, reproducibility, and in-line monitoring strategies

• System-level demonstrators and product validation

• Deployment strategies development for micro-groove products

 

4. Device and Systems-Level Modelling

Multiscale modelling of perovskite photovoltaic technologies to support industrial translation, including:

• Device physics simulation

• Degradation pathway modelling

• Performance prediction under real-world deployment scenarios

• Energy yield modelling and techno-economic assessment

 

About You

Applicants should:

• Hold a PhD in a relevant discipline (chemistry, physics, materials science, electronics engineering).

• Demonstrate a strong track record in photovoltaics, thin-film electronics, materials engineering, and/or device modelling.

• Show interest in industrial translation, scale-up, and manufacturing environments.

• Meet the eligibility criteria for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme (including mobility rules).

Experience in perovskite photovoltaics, thin-film processing, roll-to-roll manufacturing, reliability engineering, or techno-economic modelling is advantageous but not mandatory if justified within the proposal.

 

What Power Roll Offers

• Access to a fully operational pilot manufacturing facility

• Integration into a commercial PV development programme

• Industrial supervision and mentorship

• Exposure to TRL/MRL frameworks and product qualification processes

• Opportunity to contribute directly to commercial renewable energy deployment

This fellowship provides a pathway for researchers who wish to transition from purely academic device development to high-impact industrial innovation.

 

Application Process

Researchers interested in applying for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship with Power Roll as host should submit:

1. Curriculum Vitae (maximum two pages)

2. A research proposal (maximum two pages) outlining:

   • Scientific rationale

   • Alignment with Power Roll’s micro-groove platform

   • Expected technical impact

   • Anticipated deliverables within the MSCA timeframe

3. List of publications

4. Three most relevant publications

Applications must be submitted no later than 5 April 2026 at 23:59 (Greenwich Mean Time).

All application materials should be sent electronically to:

HR@powerroll.solar  

Please include “MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship – Expression of Interest” in the subject line.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to discuss proposal refinement and eligibility prior to submission to the European Commission under the MSCA framework.

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