Researcher in the field of nanostructured photochromic and thermochromic thin films

Electrification and digitalisation are among the largest areas for the future in the conversion to sustainable societies. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in the areas - renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 6G communication and wireless sensor networks as well as research and education within Life Science, smart electronic sensors and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international workplace with around 160 employees that all contribute to important technical energy and health solutions at the Ångström Laboratory.

The position will be located at the Department of Solid-State Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering.

Research project: The European CETPartnership project SmartPV aims at merging photovoltaic and smart windows approaches in innovative energy and resource-efficient glazing. Uppsala University coordinates the project and develops novel chromogenic coatings. Specifically, thermochromic (such as vanadium oxide) and photochromic (yttrium and lanthanide oxyhydride) thin films and grown by sputter deposition on glass and polymeric substrates will be investigated and prepared.

Material characterization of films will primarily be done by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, spectrophotometry, photoelectron spectroscopy, FTIR, ion beam analysis, and electrical transport measurements. In addition, the project involves data analysis, data simulations, writing reports (scientific articles and project documents), and oral presentations at European project meetings and conferences.

Duties: Synthesis of thermochromic and photochromic thin films by means of magnetron sputtering methods (r-dc MS, p-dc MS, HiPIMS). Development of deposition processes for vanadium oxide and lanthanide-type oxyhydride thin films on glass and polymeric substrates. Material characterization of films, primarily done by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, spectrophotometry, photoelectron spectroscopy, FTIR, and electrical transport measurements. The work also includes data analysis, data simulations, writing reports (scientific articles and project documents), and oral presentations.

In addition to research, work include participation in SmartPV project meetings, supervision of doctoral students, master's students and project students, as well as communication of research results through scientific articles in well-established scientific journals and presentations at international conferences, are also included as important aspects of the employment. Participation in teaching may also be included. You are also expected to contribute to applications for external research funds.

Qualification requirements: Doctoral degree in materials science and/or engineering. Documented knowledge, competence and experience in the production of chromic oxide films by physical deposition technology, especially magnetron sputtering, and nanostructuring of films with polymer template masking technology, as well as of material characterization techniques including electron microscopy, XRD, TOF-SIMS, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry, FTIR and electrical measurement technology; especially electrical transport measurements.

We require many years of experience and documented scientific documentation of work in thin film synthesis and nano- and microstructuring of oxide films.

We require good oral and written skills in English.

Personal qualities, such as the ability to run projects and at the same time being able to interact with other researchers, are very important. You must be purposeful, structured and be able to work effectively both individually and in groups. Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

Qualifications desired: It is a merit if the applicant has experience in synthesis and characterization thermochromic and photochromic thin films.

Instructions for application

Your application should contain:

• A short letter describing yourself, your goals and why you want to take this Researher position.
• CV (max 2 pages)
• Copy of the PhD, master's degree (or equivalent) and course grades
• Names and contact information (e-mail and telephone) to two reference people who have agreed to act as a reference for you.
• Copies (or drafts thereof) of thesis work and other documents, such as publications, which you wish to invoke

We may review applications and invite candidates for interviews continuously throughout the application period.

About employment: Fixed-term employment for 12 months, full-time (100%). Starting date as soon as agreed upon. Location: Uppsala. 

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University

Information about the employment is provided by: Professor Lars Österlund, lars.osterlund@angstrom.uu.se

Welcome with your application no later than 22 September 2025, UFV-PA 2025/2729.