Postdoc in Nanostructured Materials

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Work assignments
Your assignment is to do research in-line with current research directions at the research group Nanostructured materials. Nanostructured Materials is an experimental research group that focuses on growth, characterization, and properties evaluation of thin films synthesized by magnetron sputtering and cathodic arc deposition. Today we are running projects on developing and understanding the behavior of protective coatings for cutting tools, nuclear fuel rods, catalytically active coatings for batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysers, and high-quality single crystal piezoelectric and superconducting thin films. Typically, these coatings and films are alloys of transition metal nitrides.

We are equipped to do advanced plasma characterization. In house we access tools including electron microscopy and spectroscopy, and x-ray diffractometry that is complemented with in-situ SAXS, WAXS, XAS etc. studies at synchrotron facilities. Materials properties such as hardness, wear, and electric conductivity are extracted in-house while low temperature superconductivity is measured through collaboration. Similarly, the function of the coatings is tested by industrial collaborators at their sites.

Your contributions to one or several of Nanostructured materials research strands will be tailored to your background, expertise, and interest, i.e. you will be given that chance to influence your research topics. You will be working in a team consisting of PhD-students and post-docs with experimental, and theoretical and modelling expertise.

You will be part of the competence center FunMat-II. 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 industrial partners. Your team members at Linköping University belongs to the research groups of Nanostructured Materials, Thin Film Physics, and Theory and Modelling, and industrial researchers at industrial companies that are partners of the center.

As postdoc, you will principally carry out research. A certain amount of teaching may be part of your duties, up to a maximum of 20% of working hours.

Qualifications
To be qualified to take employment as postdoc, you must have been awarded a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This degree must have been awarded at the latest by the point at which LiU makes its decision to employ you.

It is considered advantageous if your doctoral degree is no older than three years at application deadline for this job. If there are special reasons for having an older doctoral degree – such as taking statutory leave – then these may be taken into consideration.

We are looking for someone with a doctoral degree in physics or materials science with deep knowledge and hands-on experience in one or several of the following areas:


• Growth of thin films by PVD,
• Advanced characterization of thin films by WAXS, SAXS, STEM, XPS, ERDA, or XANES/EXAFS,
• Performing measurements of thermal conductivity, electric conductivity, piezoelectric properties, elastic properties, catalytic properties, hardness, or wear of thin films, or
• Designing of high temperature/high pressure cells for in-situ X-ray-based studies.

We think you have practical expertise in setting up, operating, and troubleshooting experimental equipment, as well as the ability and drive to design and implement setups for advanced measurements. Thus, prior experience in developing and optimizing experimental setups for improved measurements is considered a merit.

You are a self-motivated hard-working team player and you have a strong drive to excel in science. You organize and report your work efficiently, and you are communicative and enjoy contributing to the research projects in the group. You like scientific writing.

The workplace
You can read about the the workplace here Nanostructured Materials Division and FunMat-II.

The employment
This employment is a temporary contract of two years with the possibility of extension up to a total maximum of three years.
The employment is full-time.

Starting date by agreement.

Salary and employment benefits
The university applies individual salaries. State your desired salary in the application.

More information about employee benefits is available here.

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

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button. Your application must be received no later than 19 February, 2025.

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

Please attach your selected research publications electronically, in pdf or word format, in the application template. Research publications, e.g. monographs, which cannot be sent electronically should be sent in three sets by mail to the University Registrar at Linköping University, University Registrar, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. The publications must be received by Linköping University no later than the deadline for application.

Please note that printed publications will not be returned. They will be archived at Linköping University.

In the event of a discrepancy between the English translation of the job announcement and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall take precedent.

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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