Stillingstittel:
PhD fellowship in Model Based Control of Monocrystalline Silicon Production

Stillingsbeskrivelse:

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Faculty of Information Technology, Mathematics and Electrical EngineeringDepartment of Engineering Cybernetics (ITK)

Jobbnorge ID: 124352

The research project

It is expected that that more than 20% of the world's electricity need will be produced by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells by 2050. In large parts of the global market, government subsidies are no longer needed to make PV cells economically attractive. There is no doubt that the PV market and industry will grow strongly in the years to come.

The highest efficiency silicon solar cells require high performance monocrystalline silicon ingots produced by the Czochralski (CZ) crystal growing process. Practically all silicon used in microelectronics applications (computers, mobiles, sensors, etc) is produced with this process. To achieve high crystal quality and reduced cut-off in subsequent processing steps, tight control of the Czochralski process is required.  The Czochralski process is a non-linear batch process, with strong nonlinearities over the duration of a process run.

The research will cover modeling of the Czohralski process for control, model update and maintenance based on on-line and historical data, as well as model based predictive control.

The PhD fellowship is a part of a research project involving Norsun, Sintef and NTNU Department of Engineering Cybernetics, with financial support from the Research Council of Norway. The regular place of work will be at NTNU Department of Engineering Cybernetics, but some periods working at Norsun in Årdal (Norway) may be required.

Qualification requirements

The successful candidate is expected to hold a Master's degree in control engineering or cybernetics or a similar field. In exceptional cases, candidates with a Master's degree in chemical engineering, materials technology, physics or mathematics may be considered. In any case, a strong background in control engineering, modeling, and state estimation is required.

Prior exposure to metallurgical processes will be an advantage but not a requirement.

Applicants expecting to complete their Master's degree by the summer of 2016 can apply.

Contact

The main supervisor will be Professor Morten Hovd (morten.hovd (at) itk.ntnu.no ).

The successful candidate will be appointed for a period of 3 years, with possible extension to a fourth year if the candidate undertakes teaching related duties.

It is a prerequisite that the PhD scholar applies for and is granted admission to the NTNU PhD studies as soon as possible after employment. NTNUs PhD-rules require a Master degree or equivalent with at least 5 years of studies and an average ECTS grade of A or B within a scale of A-E for passing grades (A best).

Applicants are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement or a similar document, which describes in detail the study and grading system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree.

Excellent English skills, written and spoken, are required. Applicants from non-European countries where English is not the official language must present an official language test report. The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:

TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test)

IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)

CAE/CPE: grade B or A.

Formal regulatio

Minstelønn: 0

Maksimal lønn: 0

Arbeidsgiver Navn: NTNU - Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelig

Arbeidsgiver adresse: O.S. Bragstads plass 2D 7491 TRONDHEIM

Job kort beskrivelse: University and higher education teachers

Land: Norge

Region: Sør-Trøndelag

Kilde til jobbtilbud: NAV, Offentlige arbeidsformidlinger, Norge

Lønn valuta: NOK

Lønn periode: Pr. år