Postdoctoral position in Materials Physics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Are you interested in working with simulating and fitting of neutron scattering data, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position in materials physics at Uppsala University.

The research conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy encompasses a wide range of physics topics, distributed over nine divisions. The department is located in the Ångström laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, 100 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. Read more on www.physics.uu.se.

The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Facility is a world-leading center for research in the physical and life sciences. Our suite of over 30 neutron and muon instruments gives unique insights into the properties of materials on the atomic scale. We support a national and international community of more than 3000 scientists for research into subjects ranging from clean energy and the environment, pharmaceuticals and health care, through to nanotechnology and materials engineering, catalysis and polymers, as well as fundamental studies of materials. https://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk/

ESS is a partnership organization of 13 European countries, and is located in the city of Lund, Sweden. The project includes the most powerful linear accelerator ever built, 15 state-of-the-art neutron instruments, and a supercomputing data management and software center. It has around 600 employees, and will have first neutrons in 2025, with a start of user operations scheduled for 2027. https://www.ess.eu/

Duties
We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow with a strong background in software development, or software developer with a strong interest in science. You will join a new project, within which applied statistics and information theory is used to quantify the information content of neutron reflectivity datasets. Using this, we are able to optimize the design of experiments and to make previously impossible experiments possible, as well as to run existing experiments faster and better.

In a facility where a typical experiment lasts few days, costs tens of thousands of pounds/Euros and takes 6+ months to apply for, any improvements to the experiment are of large value. The effort will be based on an existing code-base we have developed to design optimal thin film structures for a given purpose. These structures will be fabricated by other members of the collaboration and measured using a variety of methods including neutron reflectivity experiments. Participation and collaboration with all other parts of the project is strongly encouraged and if the candidate chooses, they can participate in the large-scale facility experiments.

The code-base is released as an open-source project, with an emphasis on sustainable software engineering (https://github.com/jfkcooper/HOGBEN) and has two journal articles published.  Significant development of the capabilities of the code-base is required. These will include improvements to the experimental design code, as well as improving the data analysis, applying Bayesian methods for extracting parameter uncertainties and model selection. The developments will allow the entire collaboration to move forward, suggesting optimal materials systems to be investigated and designing experiments for the other nodes of the project.

The position is based in Sweden but involves shorter as well as extended stays in the UK and France, working at ISIS and ILL. Visits to ESS are also assumed. There will be the opportunity for overseas travel to meet international collaborators, and to present the work at workshops/conferences.

Requirements
PhD degree, or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree, in physics, materials science, computer sciences, or a similar area of science. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

Good computer/programming skills are required, for example Python or similar. Solid background in condensed matter physics, magnetism and neutron reflectivity. Excellent knowledge of English, writing and speaking, is required. Non-Swedish speaking candidates are encouraged to learn Swedish. Personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment.   

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 2024-06-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

The position is based in Sweden but involves extended stays in the UK and France, working at ISIS and ILL. Visits to ESS are also assumed.

For further information about the position, please contact: 
Björgvin Hjörvarsson, bjorgvin.hjorvarsson@physics.uu.se, +46 (0) 18 471 3837 or Jos Cooper, jos.cooper@ess.eu

Please submit your application by 18 April 2024, UFV-PA 2024/835.

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