PhD position in Materials Physics

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 about the Department of Physics and Astronomy here

The research within the division of Materials Physics, at Uppsala University, is centred around understanding the physical properties of materials by analysing their structure and composition across multiple length scales, from the atomic to the macroscopic, and linking them to functional properties. Core areas are magnetism, hydrogen, energy materials, soft matter and ion-solid interactions.

Read more about the division of Materials Physics here

About the project: Next-generation computational devices need new architectures built on principles that are more energy efficient. The field of spintronics aims to do this by utilizing the electronic spin to store and process information. But in order for this technology to be viable we need novel methods of manipulating magnetic materials that are energy efficient and do not require using large currents to generate magnetic fields to operate devices. There are two promising ways to achieve this – using magnetoelectric methods to directly change the magnetization with an electric field, or using a spin-polarized current to switch the magnetization.

This fully funded PhD position will be a part of the MAESTRO project, funded by the Swedish Research council. The project focuses on using magneto-ionic elements as a method of tuning magnetism, creating an indirect coupling between an applied voltage and the magnetic properties and allowing for reconfiguration of a device on the fly. The goal is to incorporate solid-state electrolyte sources into thin film heterostructures, creating a compact device where a voltage can be applied to an electrolyte layer to force the migration of ions into or out of an adjacent magnetic layer.

The PhD candidate will investigate how this electrochemical technique can be used to improve spin-transfer switching of magnetic layers, using transport and optical techniques to measure the relevant properties. They will have the opportunity to work with two large-scale facilities which the research division is responsible for, the Tandem laboratory based in Uppsala, for ion-beam analysis, and the SuperADAM neutron reflectometer based at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France.

Duties

The PhD candidate will be responsible for the fabrication, development and characterization of model systems and prototype devices. This will involve using a variety of experimental techniques at the labs in Uppsala including, but not limited to:

• Material growth using vacuum-based physical vapour deposition techniques.
• Fabrication of microwire devices using cleanroom processes.
• Magnetic characterization, including the use of magneto-optic Kerr microscopy to image magnetic domains.
• Structural characterization using X-rays, ion beams at the Tandem facility, and synchrotron techniques (at large-scale facilities).

Part of the characterization work may require the development or modification of experimental setups. Travel to neutron or synchrotron facilities may be required.

The duties of the PhD candidate also include data analysis and writing scientific papers for publication in international journals, as well as giving research presentations in national and international contexts.

Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in Physics, Engineering or Materials Science, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way

Fluent communication capability in English, written as well as spoken, is required, as well as the personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment.

Additional qualifications

A suitable background includes having completed courses in condensed matter physics, materials science, or similar areas. Prior experience or knowledge in areas of magnetic materials, electrochemistry, or thin film physics is considered an asset, as well as previous hands-on experience with vacuum systems, cleanroom processes or magnetic characterization techniques.

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

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 2026-03-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Gabriella Andersson, gabriella.andersson@physics.uu.se

In this recruitment we have replaced the cover letter with questions that you are asked to answer when making your application. The answers will be used as a part of the selection process.

Please submit your application by 14 January 2026, UFV-PA 2025/3613.