PhD student in X-ray Spectroscopy

Are you interested in working with X-rays and their application to molecular catalysts, 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 doctoral position 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. uu.se/physics

The research program for Chemical and Bio-Molecular Physics focuses on understanding the fundamental properties and ultrafast processes of matter at the atomic length and time scales of Ångströms and femtoseconds. The program has a leading position in the use of X-rays for probing atoms, molecules and chemical and biomolecular systems. We develop and apply novel X-ray methods and instrumentation and aim at revealing how the properties of a system result from its electronic structure and dynamics with applications in environmental, biophysical and chemical systems.

Duties
The PhD student will develop and apply X-ray spectroscopic techniques in the tender and hard X-ray range at synchrotrons and X-ray Free Electron Lasers. In close collaboration with theory groups, the goal is to study the valence electronic structure of transition metal complexes to better understand their functionality in fields like light-harvesting and bond activation. The PhD student will be responsible for the development of novel spectroscopy infrastructure and for the design, execution, and analysis of experiments aimed at understanding how charge distributions of transition metal complexes determine their reactivity towards specific molecular transformations. Additional responsibilities of the PhD student include the writing of scientific manuscripts, presentation of research findings at internal meetings and international conferences, as well as the active participation in collaborations with other experimental and theoretical groups.

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

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in physics, chemistry (or related subject), 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.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Additional qualifications
Very good knowledge of molecular physics and spectroscopy are considered an asset, as well as previous hands-on experience with X-ray spectroscopy and instrumentation. Experience with the analysis of large data sets as well as with quantum chemical simulations is an advantage, but not necessarily required.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 01-10-2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

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

For further information about the position, please contact: (Dr. Raphael Jay, +46 76-022 67 04, raphael.jay@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 August 2026, UFV-PA 2026/2138.

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