PhD students (3 persons) 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 three PhD students in Materials Science.

Your work assignments
FunMat-II is a Competence Centre in materials science and surface engineering at Linköping University with partners at Uppsala University, the research institute RISE, and numerous Swedish and international industry partners. At Linköping University, the Divisions of Nanostructured Materials, Thin Film Physics, and Theory and Modeling participate.

As a PhD student in FunMat-II, you will conduct application-inspired fundamental research on materials synthesis with physical vapor deposition (PVD) and materials behavior. The work is primarily experimental. You will be part of a larger research team that is doing collaborative research. The team members are from Linköping university and industrial companies that are partners of the center. You will be part of one or several research projects, which are headed by a senior researcher and a steering group.

Project 1: You will investigate hard, wear-resistant coatings using x-ray based techniques such as high-energy x-ray diffractometry and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The research will be performed in close collaboration with several industrial partners. Project leader is Associate Professor Lina Rogström.  

Project 2: You will study defects in nitride coatings synthesized by magnetron sputtering and cathodic arc deposition and their influence on the coating properties. The project is performed in collaboration with industrial partners. Project leader is Professor Magnus Odén.

Project 3: You will research advanced chromium-based nitride and carbide coating materials for fundamental understanding and development for harsh environments to resist irradiation, high-temperature oxidation and corrosion resistance. The applications are in nuclear power plants, with the research done in close collaboration with industrial partners. Project leader is Senior Associate Professor Per Eklund.

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 Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) in the Nanostructured Materials Division (projects 1 and 2) and Thin Film Physics Division (project 3).

Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level in Physics, Materials Science, Materials Chemistry, or similar, with a minimum of 240 (ECTS) credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

You speak and write English fluently.

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 15 January, 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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