PhD student position in Plastic Plasmonics

Information about the Research Project
We are looking for a highly motivated student who will work in the area of polymer-metal nanoparticle hybrid materials for nanoplasmonic gas sensing in realistic environments such as urban air. The PhD project will be part of a larger research programme that involves four other research groups at the Chemistry and Physics Departments of Chalmers (K. Moth-Poulsen, C. Müller, P. Erhart, A. Hellman). The overall goal of the project "Plastic Plasmonics" is to establish efficient and scalable synthesis and processing routes of nanoparticle-polymer hybrid materials and to understand the polymer-metal interface's role in plasmonic gas sensing applications.

The aim of your research project will be to assemble and test plasmonic metal nanoparticle - polymer hybrid material structures for sensing of hazardous gas molecules such as NOx, CO, and SO2. Special emphasis will be on the experimental evaluation of the polymer-metal nanoparticle interface to understand its role in the sensor function, sensitivity and long-term stability. Finally, you will integrate plasmonic-polymer hybrids in a gas sensor prototype device.

Information about the research group
The Langhammer group at the Chemical Physics Division at the Department of Physics operates at the interface between materials science, nanoscience, catalysis, nanoplasmonics and in situ spectroscopy, with a particular focus on sustainable energy-related materials, nanosensors and nanoparticles. For that purpose we continuously develop and evolve our own methodologies for state-of-the-art nanofabrication, as well as build our own customized research instrumentation. Now we intensify our efforts towards the development and assessment of new plasmonic materials for optical gas sensing and their integration in sensor devices.

For more info, please visit our group home page:
www.langhammerlab.se

And the home page of the Chemical Physics Division:
http://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/ap/research/chemicalphysics/Pages/default.aspx

Major responsibilities
The majority of your working time is devoted to your own research studies. As a PhD student you are expected to develop your own ideas and communicate scientific results in English, both orally as well as in writing. In addition, the position will normally include ca. 10 % departmental work, mostly teaching duties. Undergraduates are normally taught in Swedish, although the graduate level teaching is in English. Applicants whose native language is not Swedish should be able to teach in Swedish after two years of employment.

Position summary
The position is limited to maximum 4 years full-time research studies. In addition, duties at the department, mainly teaching in undergraduate or masters courses, distributed over the whole time of the position, can be included.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD candidate, you must have a master level degree in Nanoscience or in Physics. Hands on experience with nanofabrication through, e.g., a project or master thesis work is mandatory, while experience with nanoplasmonics and/or optical spectroscopies are a merit. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the work, which involves collaborations within the project team but also internationally, the candidate is expected to have excellent collaboration skills.

The position also requires excellent communication skills in written and spoken English. Applicants who do not have English or a Scandinavian language as their mother tongue need to provide documentation of  good communication skills in English, typically evidenced by an English language test, for example TOEFL 550 (paper-based)/TOEFL 213 (computer-based), and exemplified during the interview process prior to admission.

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20160280 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically via Chalmers webpage.


Application deadline: 31 July 2016

For questions, please contact:
Christoph Langhammer, Associate professor, 
Chemical Physics, Physics,
clangham@chalmers.se,
+46736528980

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***