Department of Physics and Astronomy

The research conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy encompasses a wide range of physics topics, distributed over ten divisions. The department is located in the Ångström laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, 125 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.

Uppsala University hereby declares a PhD candidate position at the Department of Physics and Astronomy to be open for application. The studies will be focusing on ion beam-based physics and technological applications to nanostructure engineering, with preliminary starting date in September 2021.

In the ion physics group, we study how energetic ions interact with different materials on an atomic and molecular level. Apart from fundamental physics, focus is diverted to various aspects of advanced materials research. The characterization methods offered by the group enable concentration determination and depth profiling of elements and molecules with very high precision for samples related to an abundance of technical applications. A 5 MV tandem accelerator, a 350 kV ion implanter, a setup for low energy ion scattering and an implanter for low energy ions which is presently under development constitute the primary experimental infrastructure.

The aim of the thesis project is to investigate the nanostructures that are formed when a material is irradiated with ions, and to build a toolkit of methods by which the properties of these structures may be controlled. More specifically, we investigate the time- and depth scale for the exchange of electrons between the ions and the material. As the charge states of the ions change, so does the material modification resulting from interaction with those ions. By measuring and calculating the charge state as a function of depth in the material we will attempt to predict the geometry of the created nanostructures. As a step towards technological applications, the knowledge gathered will be used to generate two classes of practically useful nanostructures: nanopores in thin membranes and embedded nanostructures in material samples consisting of a single or several thin layers. Fundamental studies of ion-material interactions may be included in the project, both to form a deeper understanding for the relevant processes occurring during the experiments, and to improve our ability to predict and explain the structures that are formed.

Qualifications requested and eligibility: The successful candidate should have a master of science or civil engineering degree in physics, engineering science or equivalent. Experiences in interdisciplinary materials science and modelling will be considered a merit. The candidate should further have good communication skills, excellent study results and be skilled in both oral and written English.

Appointment as a graduate student requires that the holder is admitted or will be admitted to PhD studies, where applicant’s ability to successfully complete the doctoral studies will be decisive. The PhD position is for four years, extendable to a maximum of five years including departmental duties at a level of at most 20% (typically teaching). Information about doctoral education, eligibility requirements and admission rules can be found on the web site of the Faculty of Technology http://www.teknat.uu.se/utbildning/forskarniva/.

Application: Applications should include a brief description of research interest and past experience, a CV, copies of exams, degrees and grades, a copy of your Master thesis (or a draft thereof) and other relevant documents. The candidates are encouraged to provide letter(s) of recommendation and contact information to reference persons. 

The rules governing PhD-studies may be found (in Swedish) in Högskoleförordningen Chapter 5-7 and in the University's guidelines for research education, http://regler.uu.se/.

In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.
 
Starting date: 01-09-2021 or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100 %

For further information about the position please contact: Petter Ström, petter.strom@physics.uu.se,  +46 18-417 3613, Daniel Primetzhofer, daniel.primetzhofer@physics.uu.se,  +46 18-417 3040

Please submit your application by 31 May 2021, UFV-PA 202X/1635

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Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment 20210901
Salary Fixed salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Uppsala
County Uppsala län
Country Sweden
Reference number UFV-PA 2021/1635
Union representative
  • ST/TCO, tco@fackorg.uu.se
  • Seko Universitetsklubben, seko@uadm.uu.se
  • Saco-rådet, saco@uadm.uu.se
Published 26.Apr.2021
Last application date 31.May.2021 11:59 PM CEST

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