Kaunas University of Technology (herein after KTU) is looking for an ambitious and motivated young researcher, who wants to bring together his/her first research team and lead the research project under the funding measure No. 12-003-03-06-01 "My First Research Team."

The position is open to a researcher who is starting his/her research career and is ready to lead an independent research group in the thematic area identified below. This is a unique opportunity to expand the boundaries of scientific knowledge, gain experience in project implementation, and bring together a team for the first time as a project manager.

The thematic area of the project

"Non-fullerene organic acceptors for next-generation solar cells".

Description of the thematic area

Fullerene (C60), due to its high electron mobility, is widely used as an electron transport layer (ETL) in next-generation solar cells (SCs), particularly in perovskite and perovskite/silicon tandem SCs. However, C60 has several drawbacks, including high interfacial recombination losses, delamination, and high cost. Its interaction with oxygen affects negatively solar cell performance, while parasitic absorption reduces the current of the top cell in tandem SCs. Therefore, interest in alternative ETLs is increasing. Nevertheless, no significant breakthrough has yet been achieved in this field. The aim of this project is to develop a non-fullerene ETL whose electrical properties match those of C60, while eliminating the issues listed above.

We offer a 3-year project-based employment contract and up to €374,500 in funding for the implementation of the research project. These funds cover the salary of the young researcher, who will work on a full-time basis, and the project team, as well as travel expenses, the purchase of goods and services, and other expenses necessary for the implementation of the research project.

The start date of the project is no later than September 1, 2026.

Main responsibilities:

• to organise and coordinate project activities according to the provisions of the project financing and/or joint venture agreement and to monitor the timetables for their implementation;

• to conduct research and experimental development activities scheduled in the project;

• to publishe the results of the research conducted in the project in scientific publications; to announce the results of the research conducted in the project in the presentations at scientific conferences;

• to analyse, summarise and document the results achieved in the project;

• to care the publicity and dissemination of the results of the project;

• to participate in the preparation of project performance reports;

• to make decisions within his/her competence necessary for the implementation of the objectives defined in the project plan;

• to make sure that appropriate methods and measures are used in the implementation of the project;

• to cooperate with the project team for the achievement of the project objectives.

Main requirements:

• The candidate must hold a PhD: time period from the date of obtaining a doctoral degree until the last day of the call deadline (January 23, 2026) should not exceed 7 (seven) years (this period does not include maternity and childbirth leave, paternity leave, parental leave, or periods of long-term incapacity for work);

• The candidate may not have led a research project funded by the Research Council of Lithuania, carried out under these measures and/or programs, before the deadline for applying for this position (January 23, 2026):

1. the 2014–2020 EU Structural Funds Investment Action Programme Measure No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718 “Targeted Research in Smart Specialisation Areas”;

2. the 2014–2020 EU Structural Funds Investment Action Programme Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712 “Development of the Scientific Competence of Scientists, Other Researchers, and Students through Practical Scientific Activities”, excluding measures for promoting students’ scientific activities and for postdoctoral fellowships;

3. researchers groups projects;

4. the State Programme for Lithuanian Studies 2016–2024;

5. short-term research in the fields of health, education, and training;

6. national research programmes: Welfare Society, Healthy Ageing, Sustainability of Agro-, Forest and Water Ecosystems, Towards Future Technologies, Modernity in Lithuania;

7. competitive priority research programmes: Welfare Society, Strengthening Societal Resilience and Crisis Management in the Context of Contemporary Geopolitical Events;

8. the dedicated programme “Information Technologies for the Development of Science and the Knowledge Society”;

9. projects carried out under bilateral and multilateral international agreements: Lithuania–Taiwan projects, the Baltic Research Programme, Lithuania–Poland projects;

10. projects carried out under measure No. 12-001-01-02-01 "Strengthening Innovation Ecosystems in Research Centers" Annex 13 to the description of the project being implemented (applies to the scientific direction of applied competence centers, thematic leaders, research team leaders, and their proposed teams that will carry out R&D projects in accordance with the internal procedures of the relevant partner institution).

• The candidate must have required competencies of a recognised researcher set out in the Description of Mandatory Competencies for the Career Stages of Researchers in Research and Academic Institutions (possession of, or a desire to develop the preferred competencies is an advantage);

• Scientific experience in the synthesis and characterization of organic semiconductors used in solar cells;

• Experience in research activities and dissemination of their results;

• At least 3 (three) years of experience in organizational, or academic activities;

• Knowledge of project planning and management, budget and activity plan preparation principles;

• Skills in preparing documents and reports;

• Leadership, analytical thinking, initiative, consistency, responsibility.

Additional experience:

• If the candidate has published scientific publications in the field of synthesis and characterization of organic semiconductors used in solar cells, especially in highly cited (Q1/Q2 quartiles) journals, and if he/she has international patents or is a co-author of international patents, this would be considered an advantage.

Benefits:

• Meaningful work at KTU – one of the largest technological universities in the Baltic States and a leading institution of higher education in Lithuania;

• Opportunities for professional development: internal and external training, international seminars;

• Well-being solutions: partner discounts with Perks, employee well-being program – Kaip tu, gyms, additional vacation days;

• Hourly rate – 29.58 EUR/hour gross, workload – 40 hours/week (full-time);

• Hybrid work model – possibility to work remotely 1 day per week.

List of documents to submit:

• Copy of PhD diploma;

• Curriculum vitae (CV);

• List of scientific publications;

• Copies of documents certifying maternity and paternity leave, parental leave, or childcare leave, or copies of birth certificates for children (if applicable);

• Copies of documents certifying long-term illness (if applicable).

Application deadline:

Please submit your application via form down below no later than January 23, 2026 (inclusive).

For additional information, please contact Agnė Karabanovaitė, Organisation Development Specialist, at cv@ktu.lt.