Matthias Bräuninger

R&D engineer in applied research (micro-/nanotechnology & photovoltaics) | Thin-film technology | Process development | Project management

Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

About

Experience: - Over 10 years of international experience in as engineer and researcher in process development and materials research/characterisation in the areas of nanoelectronics and photovoltaics - Practical experience in thin film technology (organic and inorganic), microfabrication (lithography, CAD/CAM), vacuum technology and cryotechnology - 10 years of international experience in academic teaching through tutoring students in exercise groups and practical courses - Several years of experience in project management in several disciplines, e. g. as work package leader in a Horizon 2020 research project - Business-fluent in German, English and French, conversational in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese

Experience

  • Scientific Assistant at Haute Ecole Arc - Ingénierie
    May 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 3 mos

    - Process development for treating surfaces: Creating coloured coatings by PVD, laser machining (CAD/CAM: engraving, drilling, cutting) on metals and silicon, e. g. for microfluidics - Surface analysis, e. g. roughness (confocal optical microscopy), SEM, colorimetry - Tutoring engineering students in practical courses on surface treatment and analysis, conceiving and delivering a practical course on laser machining

  • Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter at Haute école du paysage, d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Genève - HEPIA
    Sep 2023 - Mar 2024 · 7 mos

    - Developing a prototype of a compact fluorescence microscope: CAD-designing mechanical parts as a function of the optical path and prototyping - Construction and alignment of the prototype, performing calibration measurements with a fibre laser and adapting the design

  • Documentary Information Specialist at EPFL
    Dec 2019 - Nov 2022 · 3 yrs

    Service administrator for EPFL's publication repository "Infoscience": - Testing user-relevant functionalities and creating bug reports - Creating specifications for a repository update (public tender) - Extraction and analysis of support-related data e. g. using Python Repository user support: - First-level support: Handling small inquiries or deferring to 2nd-level team - Compiling user-relevant procedures in a knowledge base, conceiving and delivering user training - Coordination of the first-level team, e. g. rota organisation and optimising support procedures Project management: Creation of an information platform related to Open-Access publishing - Collaboration on creating specifications, designing parts of the user interface and defining the data base structure - Coordination of the implementation, performing functionality tests and writing bug reports Other tasks: - Presenting library projects (OACT & Infoscience) to different audiences - Performing elementary library tasks in French, English and German - Occasional translations into German or English

  • Engineer at GESTE Engineering SA
    Aug 2019 - Sep 2019 · 2 mos

    - Contributing to planning railway safety installations - Contributing to writing technical and safety-related reports

  • Post-doc/Research engineer at Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
    Mar 2016 - Mar 2019 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    Materials research with the aim to increase the efficiency and stability of organohalide-based perovskite solar cells: - Optimisation of optical and electrical properties of charge transport layers - Improving the perovskite absorber by screening organohalides and their concentration - Improving cell efficiency by fine-tuning the fabrication process Cell and materials characterisation: - Electrical measurements (light-I-V, EQE) to determine cell data (efficiencies, sc currents, etc.) - Surface characterisation of perovskite and silicon solar cells by AFM - UV-VIS spectroscopy of absorber and transport layers Process optimisation: - Implementing industry-compatible fabrication methods - Optimisation of individual process steps Project management (CHEOPS: https://cheops.accelopment.com/) as work package leader: - Coordinating the collaboration in a work package between international academic and industrial partners - Writing and reviewing project reports, presenting the achieved results in project meetings and conferences Further tasks and responsibilities: - Programming measurement and evaluation software (LabView, python) - Responsible person for a vacuum deposition chamber (maintenance and training) - Co-responsible for an atomic force microscope (set-up and training) - Responsible for consumables (e. g., sample substrates)