PhD student in Materials Physics

Skilled and committed employees are a crucial factor in the success of Linköping University. And we need more of them. Our core expertise comes from teachers and researchers, but a successful university requires experienced and motivated employees in many fields. Everyone is important. We need to recruit many new employees thanks to, among all, an expansion in our research activity. We need you here. We look forward to receiving your application!

The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology conducts research and offers education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Research, the predominant activity, is often done in collaboration with corporate and international partners. We are one of the university’s largest, oldest and most well known departments, encompassing five interacting scientific fields: biology, chemistry, material physics, applied physics and theory and modelling.
Read more at https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/ifmWe are looking for a PhD student in Materials Physics.

Your work assignments
The project for which we are now looking for a PhD student concerns fundamental research within material physics and materials chemistry, primarily focused on discovery of novel 2D materials for energy and environmental applications.

The Materials Design division is currently active in the design and development of new 2D materials. This is achieved through a combination of theoretical simulations performed in close connection to materials synthesis and characterization, with subsequent property testing. We have a strong track record in the discovery of new MXenes (2D metal carbides/nitrides), and we now intend to explore MXenes as well as new 2D materials beyond MXenes for energy and environmental applications.

The PhD student will perform 3D materials synthesis (primarily powder-based bulk synthesis) and realize 2D materials through chemical exfoliation. The materials will be characterized with respect to structure and composition (XRD, SEM, EDX, XPS, TEM). The 2D materials will be formulated into electrodes (and devices), and will be tested for, e.g., energy storage potential (supercapacitors and batteries) and energy conversion potential (such as HER).

The PhD student will be part of an international team (> 20 people) performing related theoretical investigations and experimental activities on laminated materials in 3D and 2D, including (in selection) advanced materials characterization, high resolution (in situ) microscopy, and synchrotron analysis.

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Your workplace
The Materials Design division carries out research, undergraduate and postgraduate education within materials physics (materials chemistry). The division is divided in three units; Materials theory, Thin films and nanolaminated materials, and Applied electrochemistry. The PhD student will be part of a stimulating research environment that combines multiscale modelling with materials synthesis and characterization, targeting new materials for future innovations.

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

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School https://wise-materials.org/research/graduate-school/, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and industry.

Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level in physics, materials chemistry or materials science/engineering with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

The applicant must have very good and fluent English, spoken and written.

Since the project is part of a big collaborative project, excellent communication and collaboration skills are required.

A letter of intent should be submitted with the application, stating research areas of interest and motivation for pursuing a PhD.

Terms of employment
When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date
By agreement.

Salary and employment benefits
The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than 6 March 2023.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities.

We look forward to receiving your application!


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