PhD student in studies of material surfaces and interfaces - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The research conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy encompasses a wide range of physics topics, distributed over ten divisions. The department is located in the Ångström laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, 125 of whom are doctoral students. It offers a broad physics curriculum to undergraduate and graduate students, participation in nationally and internationally leading projects for researchers, and opportunities for partnership with industry and various outreach activities. Find out more at www.physics.uu.se

The division for molecular and condensed matter physics is world leading in developing X-ray based methods for the study of atomic processes. This have given us a position at the forefront in the studies of atoms, molecules and condensed matter – especially applied to materials, surfaces and interfaces of interest for the development of a sustainable society.

Duties/Project description: The project regards the studies of material surfaces and interfaces for applications in energy materials for renewable systems. The materials will be of both model-system and component character that may be used in (photo)electrochemical systems for energy production, energy storage, and also for catalytic processes.

The student will primarily work with synchrotron light based electron spectroscopies to characterise surfaces’ and interfaces’ electronic structures. Two-dimensional systems will be central, for instance interfaces between 2D materials such as MoS2 and the absorber in solar cells. A part of the project will consist of the continuation of the method development of X-ray based electron spectroscopies to measure electron dynamics processes at surfaces and in interfaces that have been started in the research group. This is a method that allow the studies of the local electronic structure – and the charge dynamics within it – of material interfaces.

The projects goal is to develop material systems by studying the fundamental properties of electron dynamics in interfaces between materials and relate those to function of the systems and how this can be transferred to applied systems. Interfaces between metal sulphides and other materials will be the starting point since they are constituting parts of, for instance, contacts in solar cells or parts of alkali-ion batteries.

Requirements: The applicant should have a degree in Physics, Material science or another relevant subject. 

Additional qualifications: Experience in photoelectron spectroscopy or other materials’ analysis methods (e.g. electron microscopy) and material synthesis will be considered merits. Experience of work at synchrotron laboratories, the utilisation of time-of-flight spectrometers for electron spectroscopy and the analysis of the data from those will also be of merit. Since the research will be done in an international setting it is expected that the candidate has command of spoken and written English.

Other: The application should consist of a letter describing research interests and relevant experiences (maximum 2 A4 pages), list of published scientific works (if any), Curriculum Vitae (CV, 2 A4 pages), copies of degree certificates and grades. We also welcome contacts to reference persons and/or attach letters of recommendation.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines https://regler.uu.se.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.

Starting date: 1 September 2020 or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100 %

For further information about the position please contact: Andreas Lindblad 018-4713545 andreas.lindblad@physics.uu.se

Please submit your application by 1 June 2020, UFV-PA 2020/1659.

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