PhD student in Thin Film Physics

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Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi (IFM) bedriver såväl grundutbildning som forskning och forskarutbildning. Forskning är den dominerande verksamheten och den sker ofta i samverkan med företag och internationella partners. Vi är en av universitetets äldsta, mest välkända och största institutioner och omfattar fem samverkande vetenskapliga områden: biologi, kemi, materialfysik, tillämpad fysik samt teori och modellering.
Läs mer: www.ifm.liu.se

LINKÖPING UNIVERSITY
Hereby advertises a position as

PhD student in Thin Film Physics
formally based at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM 

Description
The Ph.D. student in this project will work on optical, structural and biochemical characterization of natural material systems. The structures of interest are of so-called Bouligand type, a helicoidal arrangement found in both animals and plants. In this project you will focus on scarab beetles (from the arthropod class of insects) and on stomatopods (from the arthropod class of malacostraca). The cuticle structure will be investigated by optical methods (mainly Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry), electron microscopy and other advanced material characterization techniques. This will be combined with biochemical and genetic studies.

The helicoidal structures give these animals many remarkable properties connected to optical polarization phenomena and extreme hardness. In this context also the animal’s vision sensors are of interest. The project will be aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the Bouligand structure and related phenomena as an input for development of novel technology, understanding of biological role, as well as fundamental aspects of the chirality concept.

The project is done as a joint Ph.D. programme between Linköping University (LiU) in Sweden and Nanyang Technical University (NTU) in Singapore according to the implementation agreement LiU-2015-01061.
The proposed joint Ph.D. programme will be conducted on a full-time basis with full Ph.D. positions (LiU) and Ph.D. scholarships (NTU). The degree to be awarded is a Ph.D. jointly delivered by LiU and NTU. In this project LiU will have the role as "Home University" and NTU will have the roll as "Partner University".
The research will be conducted in the Thin Film Physics division at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology at LiU and in the Biological & Biomimetic Material Laboratory at the Center for Biomimetic Sensor Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering at NTU.

Qualifications
The applicant must hold a Master in Science or equivalent in Physics, Materials Science, Nanotechnology or equivalent. It is an advantage to have prior experimental experience of what is described in the Job description above – in particular experience of polarization optics and materials characterization. Some knowledge of biochemistry is also a merit.

Qualified to PhD studentships are only those who are or have been admitted to graduate studies.

Appointment time
The Ph.D. employment is for 4 years where the student will spend the first 2 years at LiU. During this period the research project will be initiated and coursework requirements should be fulfilled. After fulfilling the formal requirements at LiU the student will continue the research at NTU for at least 1 year. The last period of the Ph.D. project will be done at LiU. During the employment you will primarily devote yourself to your research. The final thesis defence will be carried out jointly according to rules and regulations at LiU.

Starting date 
Earliest March 1, 2017

Salary
The salary for PhD students is based on the department’s salary scale.

Union representatives
For contact with union representatives see www.liu.se/jobba/lediga-jobb/fackliga-kontaktpersoner?l=en&sc=true  

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must be received at latest January 31, 2017.

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



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