PhD student in Materials Science

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/ifm

We are looking for a PhD student in Materials Science.

Your work assignments
LiU is a stakeholder in a European collaborative project that focus on the development of new materials that will protect nuclear power plant fuels. These materials are silicon carbide-based composites whose structure is designed at the nanometer level. Your tasks consist of characterizing and understanding the materials, their degradation mechanisms during irradiation in harsh conditions, and to suggest improvements of the materials microstructure to extend their lifetime and durability. Your primary tool will be advanced electron microscopy to determine structure, composition and chemical bonds at the atomic level.

As a doctoral 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 Thin Film Physics division conducts research as well as undergraduate and postgraduate education in materials physics. You will be part of the Materials Microscopy Unit, that coordinates electron microscopy at the national level.

Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level in physics, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, materials science, or similar 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.

Previous experience and interest in electron microscopy, in situ microscopy in combination with materials for nuclear applications or corrosion gives merit.

Fluent English, spoken and written, is mandatory.

As the project comprises work and interaction with multiple research groups across Europe, good communication and collaboration skills are required. 

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 doctoral 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 27 September 2022. Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

Equal opportunities
A majority of our PhD students within IFM are men, which is why precedence will be given to women in cases where qualifications are deemed otherwise equivalent.


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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