Postdoctoral position in X-ray Photon Science on Energy Materials

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is located in the Ångström Laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, around 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 uu.se/physics.

The division of X-ray Photon Science is world-leading in the use of advanced spectroscopy methods. This puts us in the forefront in atomic-level studies of atoms, molecules and condensed matter. This division includes the research programme Condensed Matter Physics of Energy Materials, with a special focus on studies and development of materials, surfaces and interfaces of interest for different energy applications, and therefore also the development of a sustainable society. We are a diverse and collaborating research group that shares the same general goal of unraveling and controlling the mechanisms that take place in complex systems related to photovoltaics, batteries, fuel cells, and catalysis. The postdoctoral position is placed at the research program Condensed Matter Physics of Energy Materials and the project involves collaborations with specialists in battery materials research.

This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE), wise-materials.org. 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.

Young researchers recruited to the WISE program will be part of the WISE Research School, an ambitious nationwide program with seminars, courses, research visits and other activities to promote a strong multidisciplinary and international network between doctoral students, postdocs, researchers and industry. The goal of WISE is to create the conditions for a sustainable society through research into new environmentally friendly materials and production methods, a partial goal is to develop methods for the production of new materials to combat pollution and toxic emissions.

Duties
The successful candidate for this Postdoctoral student position will have opportunity to study a variety of battery materials using x-ray-based methodology, and complementary techniques.

Within the position, you also have the opportunity to learn how to design materials using different methods and to characterize batteries. The candidate will be part of a collaborating research group that share the same general goal of unravelling the functionality in such interesting and challenging energy materials and also develop their performance.

Specifically, the work include:

• to use experimental results for understanding the physics that limits the efficiency of energy materials
• to investigate the geometric structure and electron structure of new battery materials, oxides and their interfaces by lab-based and synchrotron light-based X-ray spectroscopic methods as well as additional functional characterizations tools
• use the new knowledge to give design rules and develop systems for new efficient battery materials
• to write scientific reports and papers and lead some of the experimental activities

Requirements
PhD degree in physics, material science or physical chemistry or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in physics, material science or physical chemistry. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the deadline for applications.  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. Experience in the subject area is a merit.

Additional qualifications
Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, as well as the applicant's experience and potential within the area of the future duties.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 15 August 2025 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Håkan Rensmo,  +46701679145, hakan.rensmo@physics.uu.se).

Please submit your application by 5 June 2025, UFV-PA 2025/798.

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