Assistant Professor in Optical Materials with Specialization in Energy Materials - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Uppsala University’s tenure track system grants assistant professors the possibility to be assessed for promotion to the position as associate professor. The university provides support in various areas, such as scientific and educational development, leadership development as well as patent and innovation support.

At the Ångström Laboratory at Uppsala University, there is an extensive experience in materials research for energy applications. Here is a world-class research environment for the development of new optical and opto-electronic materials with strong nodes in materials synthesis, thin film synthesis, nano- and micro-fabrication, materials optics, device physics, ion beam-assisted material analysis and modification, solid state spectroscopy, X-ray and neutron scattering, and material theory. The research has established Uppsala University as a world leader in chromogenic matter, thin film solar cells, magnetism and spectroscopic techniques, with many spinoff companies.

The position is located at the Division of Solid State Physics at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The division has a long tradition of research into functional materials for energy and environment-related applications, including pioneering work in electrochromism, thermochromism, photochromism, photocatalysis and solar fuel research (https://www.materialvetenskap.uu.se/solid-state-physics/) with accumulated scientific citations exceeding 50,000. Research is now expanding into multilayer, heterostructure, and nanotechnology-based structures to manipulate light-material interactions and surface chemical properties of chromogenic and catalytic materials, as well as optical coatings that can selectively control transmission and scattering of sunlight.

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Description of subject area of the employment
The optical properties of materials are the cornerstone of solar energy conversion processes on Earth. A careful control of these properties is essential for future clean and efficient energy technology. Optical and optoelectronic materials are found in solar cells, windows, displays, detectors, light sources, thermal management devices and also in communication devices and IoT applications. To make further progress and to be able to effectively harness, control or convert light into useful forms of energy, fundamental understanding of optical light-matter interaction is required. This requires understanding the quantum nature of materials, how electromagnetic radiation interacts with and propagates in solids, including elementary excitations and electrodynamics. Today, it is possible to synthesize a wide range of material structures with properties controlled by size, morphology, and composition, and analytical tools are being developed to study atomic-scale processes in these structures. However, there is a need to expand the knowledge of how to manipulate optical light–matter interactions of these new materials for precise control and tuning of their optical properties for next-generation sustainable energy management and energy generation technologies. The ambition is to anchor the position in our research on light-matter interactions to solve energy and environment-related challenges in society, as well as to investigate and be inspired by processes that occur in nature.

The subject area of this position is optical light-matter interaction from a modern perspective, targeting solar energy materials such as nanochromism, light scattering and scattering in nanomaterials and metamaterials. This includes innovative experimental and theoretical research using new methods and concepts to manipulate and understand electromagnetic responses of nanomaterials.

Duties

• Teaching, research and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration and supervision of second- and third-cycle students.
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
• Apply for research grants from Swedish and international research financiers in order to strategically build up independent research within the subject area. 

Appointment Period
The position can be held for a maximum of six years. An Assistant Professor can apply for promotion to Associate Professor. If the Assistant Professor is deemed suitable and fulfills the criteria for promotion established by the Faculty Board he/she shall be promoted to and employed as Associate Professor.

Qualifications Required

• PhD in physics or chemistry with specialization in optical materials, or equivalent degree and specialization. Applicants who have obtained a PhD degree or achieved the equivalent competence in five years or less prior to the end of the application period will be given priority.
• Research Expertise and Teaching Expertise. It is necessary that the pedagogical skills, the research expertise and the professional skills are relevant to the content of the employment and the tasks that will be included in the employment.
• Applicants should have completed teacher training of relevance to operations at the University, comprising five weeks, or have acquired the equivalent knowledge. If special circumstances apply, this training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment.
• Documented ability to teach in Swedish or English is a requirement unless special reasons prevail.
• Personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment. 

Assessment Criteria/Ranking of applicants that fulfil the above-mentioned qualifications required
The ranking of eligible applicants will be based primarily on research and teaching expertise, of which weight will be primarily given to research expertise.

Research Expertise comprises research merits as well as the applicant´s potential to contribute to the future development of both research and teaching. In assessing research expertise research quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of research, primarily in regard to depth and breadth, must also be afforded consideration. In assessing research expertise special weight will be attached to research merits in in the field of optical properties of solids and in particular experimental methods for the synthesis and characterization of optical nanostructures. It is meriting if the applicant also has competence in theoretical modeling of optical materials.

Teaching Expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. In assessing teaching expertise teaching quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, must also be afforded consideration. In assessing teaching expertise special weight will be attached to merits in teaching within courses in solid state physics, optical semiconductor science, and nanomaterials/nanotechnology.

Collaboration Expertise is important and will be afforded consideration. Such expertise is demonstrated through the ability to establish and lead collaborations at national and international level. It includes academic as well as industrial collaborations. Other examples of collaboration are patent applications, commercialization and industry collaboration.

All merits must be documented in a manner that makes it possible to assess both quality and scope.

In filling this position the university aims to appoint the applicant who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of her/his competence and expertise, is judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to help advance operations.

Further information
In an overall assessment of the applicant’s qualifications, parental leave, part-time work relating to care of children, union assignments, military service, or the like are to be regarded as work experience.

University appointment regulations

Faculty appointment regulations

Instructions for application 

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position, six years. Scope of employment is 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position please contact: Lars Österlund, Professor, +46702562425, lars.osterlund@angstrom.uu.se

Please submit your application by July 5 2023, UFV-PA 2023/1448.

In the event of any disagreement between the English and the Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

If you are an international candidate, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus.