“As a child, I did my homework by candlelight,” says Dr. Afshan Jamshaid, who grew up in Mattani Peshwar, a small village in Pakistan without electricity. Today, the postdoctoral scientist is on a mission to change how we power our world.
At the Institute for Photovoltaics (ipv) at the University of Stuttgart, Afshan Jamshaid is advancing research on transparent perovskite solar cells — a cutting-edge photovoltaic technology combining high efficiency with low production costs and aesthetic versatility. Her work focuses on developing stable, high-performance transparent cells that can transform everyday surfaces, such as windows and building facades, into energy-generating elements. By enabling seamless integration of solar energy into urban environments, her research contributes to making sustainable energy more accessible and innovative in both architecture and daily life.
“In my home country of Ethiopia, not everyone has access to electricity — but we have sunlight in abundance," says Dr. Asfaw Assegde. "Perovskite solar cells have huge potential to provide affordable, efficient power to off-grid communities."
A chemist with extensive expertise in materials science, postdoctoral researcher Asfaw Assegde applies his skills to advancing the stability of perovskite solar cells from real-world operating conditions to extreme environments, including high-temperature scenarios reaching up to 200 °C. At University of Stuttgart´s ipv, his research focuses on compositional engineering, nanoscale characterization, stability improvement, and environmental sustainability — all aimed at developing solar technologies capable of delivering reliable power anywhere from rural communities to the most demanding climates on Earth.
Over the course of their academic careers, Afshan Jamshaid and Asfaw Assegde have worked around the globe, from Japan to Belgium. What brought these two bright minds to Stuttgart — and what is it like to work in Germany as a postdoctoral researcher? In the video interview, they share insights into their life in Germany and reveal how they envision their future.
Lena Jauernig
Editor Research / Early Career Researchers
Jacqueline Gehrke
Online Editor