WISE PhD position in materials science with focus on accelerated exploration of next-generation energy materials

Admission to Doctoral (PhD) Studies in the subject Engineering Sciences with specialization in electronics

at the Division of Solar Cell Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University

Project Description
Automation and AI are becoming increasingly widespread in materials science, creating new opportunities for knowledge generation that can solve today's most pressing challenges. A key area is the discovery of new materials for green energy, communication, batteries, and computing, for example. In this context, multielement inorganic materials such as chalcogenides are promising candidates for sustainable and scalable technologies. The problem is that there are many candidates to explore, and material properties are highly sensitive to synthesis methods and composition. Powerful and reliable experimental methods are required to identify and compare promising new materials among the thousands of possibilities. This project aims to use automated, AI-driven laboratory equipment to quickly generate "synthesis phase diagrams" for new multielement chalcogenide materials. These datasets, which summarize the detailed relationships between composition, synthesis conditions, phase formation, and material properties, will be created by collecting data from hundreds to thousands of individually synthesized samples per material using automation and high throughput. This can enable new technological advances by allowing us to quickly select suitable materials for further development toward specific applications.

Research Tasks
Your research will involve material theory, thin-film synthesis, characterization, and data analysis, all essential skills for a materials scientist. The focus is on developing methods to automatically interpret measurement data from "combinatorial" thin-film samples, and, using some form of underlying theory (such as computational tools based on thermodynamics, e.g., CALPHAD), aggregate information from multiple samples into synthesis phase diagrams. You will learn to use the autonomous laboratory to produce samples, which involves sputtering and thermal processing techniques, and to characterize these using X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and optical spectroscopy/imaging. Ultimately, the hope is that you will help integrate your methods into the experimental platform, where they can operate autonomously. Therefore, all data processing throughout the project must be performed using Python code. Additional tasks include:

• Collaborating with fellow PhD and master’s students on various aspects of the self-driving lab’s development.

Presenting your findings in seminars and at scientific conferences. Assisting in the operation and maintenance of equipment critical to the project.

WISE
This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE). WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science. Read more: https://wise-materials.org  

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and industry.

Requirements
You should hold a Master’s degree in engineering physics, materials science, physics or an equivalent degree in a related field. You should have experience in carrying out and presenting research project(s) (e.g. a master thesis project). You should also be competent with scientific programming, using Python or similar language.

We require good oral and written skills in English.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines. 

Additional qualifications

It is advantageous to have documented experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Completed courses or project work involving materials thermodynamics and/or materials theory, and in particular phase diagrams.
• Prior experience of laboratory work, especially thin film materials synthesis and characterization, e.g. vacuum-based film deposition, x-ray diffraction, Raman scattering and optical characterization.
• Prior knowledge of machine learning or software automation are also advantages.

Great emphasis will be put on personal qualities such as the ability to independently plan and carry out work. You have good communication skills, where through this quality you cooperate well with others. You also have a good ability to write academic text.

Your application must include

• A short cover letter in which you describe yourself, why you want to do a PhD and why you are suitable for this position.
• CV (max 2 pages)
• A certified copy of your master's degree and your course grades.
• Copies (or drafts) of your master's thesis and other documents, such as publications, that you wish to refer to.
• Names and contact details of at least two contact persons who have accepted to be references for you, with any additional letters of recommendation. It must also be stated what relationship you have had with the respective referent.

The application should be written in English. We will continuously read applications and call for interviews.

Join us!

About the Department
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering aims to be an environment for successful and valuable research and education with a focus on materials science solutions for important societal challenges. Our department is an exciting workplace with research in a broad technology-related area, from basic research to large-scale applied research, and with close contacts with students through the department's involvement in engineering and master's programs. Our research and teaching are conducted within seven divisions with different research focus. Read more about us here

About the division
The Division of Solar Cell Technology was founded in 2020, but the solar cell activities at Uppsala University started already in 1984 and developed into a well-established research group. The Solar Cell Technology division consists of about 20 full time active researchers. The research within the division is dedicated to fundamental understanding as well as development of effective and low-cost solar cells based on thin film technologies. The focus is on materials containing chalcogens such as sulfur and selenium, e.g. (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) and Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTS), but also inorganic perovskites, such as BaZrS3 and other novel materials. Read more about the division here

Being a PhD student
The main duty for a doctoral student is to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and PhD courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Being a PhD student means independently running projects within a specific subject. You collaborate on an ongoing basis with other doctoral students and researchers to create results within various projects and have one or more supervisors for support during your doctoral studies. However, you work independently to a great amount, e.g. by working in a laboratory environment and writing articles for journals and for results for your doctoral thesis. Usually some form of half-time seminar is included after about half of the doctoral studies.

When you are admitted to doctoral studies, you are offered employment as a doctoral student. A position as a doctoral student at Uppsala University corresponds to full-time PhD education for four years.

Read more about being a Doctoral student here.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 01-01-2025 or as agreed upon. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Jonathan Staaf Scragg, +46(0)18 471 3382, jonathan.scragg@uu.se

Please submit your application by 8 November 2024, UFV-PA 2024/3279.

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